noun
Chinese bellflower; balloon flower
A perennial flowering plant native to East Asia, known for its balloon-shaped buds and star-shaped purple or white flowers. Common in gardens and traditional motifs.
庭に桔梗が咲いている。
Chinese bellflowers are blooming in the garden.
桔梗の花はつぼみが風船のように膨らむ。
The buds of the balloon flower swell up like balloons.
The kanji 桔梗 are used phonetically for the plant name; the historical derivation of the Japanese word ききょう is uncertain.