If you are growing some balloon flowers then you may have a question if they are poisonous to humans or pets? Before that let me tell you they are one of the beautiful flowering plants with the charming blue color. In this blog I will cover the questions regarding the toxicity of the balloon flowers and if they can be used in cooking?
So Is balloon flower poisonous to humans? Balloon flowers (Platycodon grandiflorus) is not poisonous & safe to humans according to university of california. But pfaf.org listed balloon flower roots and the older leaves that are growing at the bottom are toxic and they are not safe for human consumption. Although they have described the plant to be safe if the leaves are new and can be edible but must be cooked first to remove toxins.
You may have questions such as what kind of taste they have or are they pet friendly. Which part of the flower is edible and which is not, so keep reading.
Is balloon flower poisonous to humans?
Balloon flowers (Platycodon grandiflorus) is not poisonous & safe to humans according to university of California. But pfaf.org listed balloon flower roots and the older leaves that are growing at the bottom are toxic and they are not safe for human consumption. Although they have described the plant to be safe if the leaves are new and can be edible but must be cooked first to remove toxins.
Platycodon grandiflorus, or the Balloon flower is a flowering plant that grows in the United States & other parts of the world. It has a variety of uses including ornamental, cooking, and medicinal.
Platycodon grandiflorus is a perennial plant found throughout Europe and Asia. It is a popular garden plant that is known for its Blue flowers.
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Can you eat balloon flowers?
Yes, you can eat balloon flower leaves as soups and salads and they are used as medicinal herbs, for cooking different dishes or in some cuisine they are used as a flavoring agent. In Korea and Asia countries its roots are cut into pieces and added with edible oil, sauce, onion, chillies and garlic. Similarly Japanese make few dishes out of its leaves and roots but you should not eat it as raw due to its medium toxicity.
The use of top leaves is considered safe and you can eat them by cooking it roughly. Balloon flowers are also edible and can be used in making Korean and Japanese dishes and the recipe can be found on many websites.
I would never recommend people to eat it raw due to toxicity and advise everyone to check out the recipe and videos where they have cooked it properly with truthful instructions.
What does balloon flower taste like?
The taste of the blue balloon flower root is bitter just like a ginseng root. But once you make a dish that has different ingredients and masalas then it could taste better than ever.
Also the leaves also have a bitter taste similar to other flowering plant leaves. actually i don’t like it and the dishes in asian countries are mostly made from the roots. So use roots of balloon flowers because people have tasted it already over the years.
Can you eat balloon flower roots?
Yes, The balloon flower roots are edible and they are tasty when make it as a korean and japanese dish. You need to use different ingredients such as sesame or mustard oil, onions, garlic, ginger and the roots of the balloon flower. They are then mixed and cooked properly. You can find more such dishes in the video.
Are balloon flowers pet friendly?
For pets the balloon flowers can be poisonous and not friendly. Your dog or cat should not eat any of the roots or bottom leaves because they can be poisonous and might upset the stomach. I advise people having pets should place this planet far from them. You can also train your dog or cat to not eat the plant this way you can save the plant from breaking and pets from getting sick. Also make sure your pet always has a full meal so they don’t eat any plant in the garden or inside the house.
How to Care for Balloon flowers?
Balloon flowers Care ( Grow in Semi -shade, Hardy to zone 4 to 9, Native to Japan, Korea and eatern Asia, Family name campanulaceae, Yes edible roots in korean dishes, Bloom in late summer, flower color is blue, Perennial plant, height 2 feet, Flowering expect on July to august)
Balloon flowers are a type of flower that belongs to Korea, Japan and eastern Asia. They are hardy to zone 4 to 9, and they grow in semi-shade. They are a popular flower because they can be found in colors such as blue, pink, purple, red, orange, yellow and white. They bloom on tall stalks and have small leaves at the base of the stalk.
Balloon flowers are an interesting type of flower to grow in your home. They have a tendency to grow very quickly and require little care. They can be grown in semi-shade or full sun. They are hardy to zone 4 to 9, meaning they can be grown in cooler weather. They are popular in Korea, Japan and eastern Asia. These plants need to be planted in soil or potting mix and need to be watered regularly. When you buy them from the store, they may already have been potted in a container so you will just need to plant them in the ground or pot them up.
Balloon flowers are a popular flower that is often grown in pots. The flowers are very easy to care for and require less maintenance than many flowers. When they start to grow, they will need to be watered properly and fertilized with a bloom booster. They also need to be kept in semi-shade so that they don’t get too much sun. They are widely cultivated in Korea, Japan and eastern Asia.
How to grow Balloon Flowers?
Growing balloon flowers is easy for gardeners because they require less care and can grow with a little bit of initial push. First you need a good pot with well draining soil, buy a few seeds from the nursery or from an ecom store. Now you have seeds, sow the seeds and water to make it moist in the initial days of its growth until it starts to germinate and has seedlings. Once you see an inch’s growth transfer the plant to an area with 5-7 hours of sunlight.
These flowers’ light requirement is increased because now they want to grow bigger otherwise when they are only a baby seed it takes time and no light to grow. They mostly grow in shade so all the moisture can help the seeds to germinate. Water the plant whenever it seems dry from the topsoil. fertilize the plant only in the growing season and you should check the growth every 3-4 weeks after fertilizing.
Poisonous Varieties of Balloon Flowers
There are 3 varieties of Balloon Flowers and here are the names and if you find out about whether they are poisonous or not.
Platycodon grandiflorus ‘Astra Double Blue’
It is not clear that Platycodon grandiflorus ‘Astra Double Blue’ is poisonous but the original flowering plant has poisonous roots and the older leaves at the bottom are also toxic. They have double jointed flowers with blue(lavender) color and their height is around 10-20 cm.
Platycodon grandiflorus ‘Hakone White’
It is not clear that Platycodon grandiflorus ‘Astra Double Blue’ is poisonous but the original flowering plant has poisonous roots and the older leaves at the bottom are also toxic. One of the most peaceful flowers is the hakone white which has white petals on it and they remind me of lotus. they have a height of 10 cms and they can look amazing in a lawn or office space.
Platycodon grandiflorus ‘Astra Pink’
It is not clear that Platycodon grandiflorus ‘Astra Double Blue’ is poisonous but the original flowering plant has poisonous roots and the older leaves at the bottom are also toxic. As the name suggests the flower has a pink color and it looks similar to the original balloon flower. They grow up to 10-20 cms and are beautiful looking blooms.
Wrap Up
I hope you enjoyed our blog on is balloon flowers poisonous to humans and edible. Thank you for reading our article, if you have any questions or suggestions then send me an email from contact us. Check more such articles below.
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