Platycodon grandiflorus

Platycodon grandiflorus subsp. var.	Chinese bellflower, Japanese bellflower, common balloon flower, balloon flower
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Platycodon grandiflorus is a species of perennial flowering plant of the family Campanulaceae and the only member of the genus Platycodon (from Greek "πλατυκώδων", meaning 'a broad bell'). This species is known as platycodon or Chinese bellflower. Depending upon the region, it is also referred to as the Japanese bellflower, common balloon flower, or balloon flower. It is native to East Asia (such as China, Korea, Japan, and East Siberia) and bears big blue flowers, although varieties with white and pink flowers are in cultivation. In Korea, white flowers are more common.

The plant is a popular garden ornamental. It is hardy to USDA plant hardiness zone 3 and requires little care.

[hide]Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture

Platycodon (Greek, platys, broad, and kodon, bell; referring to the shape of the flower). Campanulaceae. Perennial smooth erect glaucous herbs, which are used in border planting. Leaves sparse, often opposite or whorled, subsessile, dentate: fls. large, solitary or few at the ends of the branches; calyx-tube adnate, turbinate, 5-lobed; corolla campanulate, 5-lobed; stamens free from the corolla; ovary inferior, 5-celled: caps, obovoid, top conical, loculicidal within the lobes of the calyx, 5- valved.—One species, E. Asia and Japan. This plant was first placed in Campanula by Jacquin. and later, by Schrader, in Wahlenbergia; and it is still sometimes cult, under these names. In 1830 it was made a separate genus (Platycodon) by A. DeCandolle. It is distinguished from Campanula by its broadly cup- shaped fls., the stamens dilated at the base, and the caps, opening at the top and not at the sides. From Wahlenbergia it differs in the valves of the caps, being opposite to the calyx-lobes instead of alternate with them. Several supposed species have been described at different times, but there seems to be no doubt that the genus is distinctly monotypic and that all forms can be referred as forms of the type P. grandiflorum, which has been widely distributed and thereby greatly modified. It has been found in a wild state from Dahuria to Manchuria, in China, in Siberia, Korea, and Japan. Platycodon requires a medium sandy loam, and does not succeed in either extremely stiff or sandy soils. It is particularly sensitive to ill-drained soils. Under suitable soil conditions it is perfectly hardy and will even stand considerable neglect. It is desirable to keep the stems tied during the season, for if once allowed to fall they can never be raised without breaking. In autumn the old stems should not be cut away, but the plant allowed to die off naturally; otherwise the crown may be injured. It can be propagated either by division or by seeding, the latter being more surely successful and therefore preferable; besides, a greater variety of flowers is obtained in this way. More care and skill are necessary in propagation by division, because of the fleshy rootstock. It is best accomplished in spring, when the plant is breaking into new growth. One of the best single varieties of P. grandiflorum is "Die Fee," large and very free-flowering, sky-blue. Of the numerous semi-double and double sorts may be noted Goos & Koenemann's German introductions: Capri, deep blue, medium tall; Multiflora, with thickly set clear blue bells; Seidenball, lilac-purple, and the dark blue Vineta. Of French origin are Cloche bleue, navy blue, and Globe azure, sky-blue. The above text is from the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture. It may be out of date, but still contains valuable and interesting information which can be incorporated into the remainder of the article. Click on "Collapse" in the header to hide this text.

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