Common Name: Balloon Flower

General Information

Platycodon grandiflorus is an erect, herbaceous perennial plant growing from a tuberous rootstock; it can grow around 50 - 90cm tall[]
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and a medicine. The roots are sold as food in local markets in Korea[]. The plant is cultivated for medicinal use and also sometimes as a food crop[]. It is often grown as an ornamental.

Known Hazards

The root is poisonous[]. The older, basal leaves are also said to be slightly toxic[]. If these reports are true then this is an exceptional species in a family that is generally free of toxins and often used for food[].

Botanical References

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Range

E. Asia - southeastern Siberia, Russian Far East, China, Japan, Korea

Habitat

Grassy slopes in hills and mountains all over Japan[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	0.50 m
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

Platycodon grandiflorus is a moderately cold-hardy plant, being able to tolerate temperatures down to about -15 to -20°c when dormant[, ].
An easily grown plant, it succeeds in any good well-drained garden soil but prefers a light more or less sandy soil in a sunny position or light dappled shade[].
A very ornamental and long-lived plant[, ], there are several named forms[]. It is cultivated, especially in China, as a medicinal plant[, ].
This species has brittle roots and strongly resents root disturbance. It should be planted out in its permanent position as soon as possible, and preferably when dormant in the winter[, ].

Edible Uses

Young leaves - cooked[]. The radical leaves are said to be slightly toxic so only the top leaves should be used.
Old leaves are powdered and used as a flavouring.

Root - cooked[, ]. Eaten in soups as a tonic vegetable[]. It is also peeled and pickled or preserved in sugar[]. A nutritional analysis is available[].

Medicinal

This species has a history of herbal use in China going back over 2,000 years and modern clinical tests have demonstrated its efficacy[, ]. It is widely used there in patent remedies and is also made into cough tablets[].
The root contains saponins and is anthelmintic, antiasthmatic, anticholesterolemic, antiphlogistic, antitussive, astringent, carminative, expectorant, haemolytic, hypoglycaemic, sedative, stomachic, tonic and vermifuge. It lowers blood sugar and cholesterol levels in the liver and inhibits the release of histamine[, , , , , , , , ].
The root is used internally in the treatment of coughs with profuse phlegm, colds, bronchitis, pleurisy, pulmonary abscesses and throat infections[, , ]. The plant is often used in combination with licorice (Glycyrrhiza species)[]. It is also used to treat hypertension and diabetes in Korea[].
The powdered root, combined with Illicium verum, is applied topically as a treatment for periodontosis and halitosis[].
The root of plants 2 - 3 years old are harvested in the spring or autumn, peeled and used fresh or dried[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - sow spring in a cold frame[]. Free and quick germination[]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and plant them out in the winter when the plants are dormant[, ].
Basal cuttings of non-flowering shoots in spring, preferably with a piece of root attached[]. Harvest the shoots with plenty of underground stem when they are about 8 - 10cm above the ground. Pot them up into individual pots and keep them in light shade in a cold frame or greenhouse until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the summer.