Balloon Flower Seeds (Platycodon grandiflorus) – Medicinal & Ornamental

Balloon Flower (Platycodon grandiflorus), known as Doraji in Korean, is one of East Asia's most treasured plants — prized for both its stunning star-shaped blooms and its thick, ginseng-like roots used in traditional herbal medicine.

Imagine rows of violet-blue buds swelling into perfect balloon shapes before bursting open into bold, five-petaled flowers. In the garden, they attract pollinators and create a striking display all summer long. In the kitchen and apothecary, the fleshy roots are pickled, stir-fried, or brewed into teas — a staple of Korean cuisine and TCM for centuries.

Why Gardeners Love It

• Dual-purpose plant: ornamental and edible/medicinal roots
• Long-lived perennial — establishes and returns year after year
• Striking balloon-shaped buds open to large, violet-blue star flowers
• Roots used as a substitute for ginseng in Korean folk medicine
• Easy to grow in well-drained soil; tolerates partial shade

Growing Guide

• Direct sow or transplant: Start indoors 6–8 weeks before last frost, or direct sow after danger of frost has passed
• Light: Full sun to partial shade
• Soil: Well-drained, moderately fertile; slightly acidic preferred
• Spacing: 12–18 inches apart
• Bloom time: Mid-summer through early fall (Year 2+)
• Roots harvest: Best in Year 2–3 for maximum size and potency
• USDA Zones: 3–8 as a hardy perennial

A rewarding plant for heritage gardeners, herbalists, and anyone exploring Asian botanical traditions. Each packet contains open-pollinated seeds for true-to-type plants.