Balloon Flower (Platycodon grandiflorus) from Huanren

Huanren Balloon Flower

Huanren Balloon Flower is a geographical indication certification trademark.

　　Balloon flower, a plant of the genus Platycodon in the family Campanulaceae, is a perennial herb with ovate or ovate-lanceolate leaves and dark blue or dark purple-white flowers. It can be used as an ornamental flower; the Korean ethnic group consumes it as a wild vegetable; its root can be used medicinally to relieve coughs, expel phlegm, ventilate the lungs, and discharge pus.

　　Balloon flower is a traditional and commonly used Chinese medicinal herb, known for its functions such as ventilating the lungs, expelling phlegm, soothing sore throats, and discharging pus. It is mainly used to treat symptoms like excessive cough with phlegm and sore throat. It serves both medicinal and edible purposes and has a high demand. The plant thrives in light, enjoys a mild, moist, and cool climate. Seedlings fear strong direct sunlight and need shading, while mature plants love sunshine but are sensitive to waterlogging. It resists drought and cold but is vulnerable to wind damage. Ideal cultivation requires deep, well-drained soil that is loose, sandy loam rich in humus. Excessive soil moisture or waterlogging can cause root rot.

　　Among balloon flower varieties, there is one with a medicinal floral scent. The balloon flower’s blooms are bright blue, bell-shaped, making it a beautiful flower from June to September as well as a commonly used medicinal variant. The Korean ethnic people in the Yanbian region of Jilin also use the tender leaves of the balloon flower as a vegetable. The “Chinese Floral Encyclopedia” classifies it as a rare flower variety. The balloon flower is also known as Platycodon, Monk’s Hood, Six-angled Lotus, Bellflower, Bundled Flower, or Doraji. Native to China, it is a perennial herbaceous plant of the genus Platycodon in the family Campanulaceae. It has many varieties, including pure white, red-purple, and patterned ones, as well as semi-double, large-flowered, and early-blooming types. Among them, the white-flowered variety also has a faint fragrance. Balloon flowers prefer warm, sunny, cool, and moist environments. In nature, they often grow on hillsides, grasslands, or near ditches.

　　Huanren Balloon Flower

　　 Huanren Manchu Autonomous County Chinese Herbal Medicine Planting Association

　　 10864823

　　 Balloon Flower (Chinese medicinal herb)