Balloon Flower is also known as Jie-geng and Chinese Bell Flower. Named after the unopened flower, which is balloon shaped with a strong blue colour. The roots (Jie-geng) has multiple uses in Traditional Chinese Medicine and is also employed in Kempo, traditional Japanese medicine. Balloon Flower is a native of China and Japan. It prefers rich, moist soils in an open, sunny position. Frost resistant but drought tender. A perennial plant, growing to 0.3m x 0.3m.