Dragonhead

Dracocephalum

Dracocephalum arguense
A long-lived, clumping perennial, reaching up to 2 x 1.5 foot, that is native to mountain meadows in northeast Asia ( Russia, Manchuria, Korea, northern & central Japan ).
The leathery linear leaves, up to 2.5 x 0.2 inches in size, are very glossy, mid-green.
The intense bright blue flowers, up to 1.3 inches long, are borne on spikes all summer long. 'Fuji White' is nearly identical except with white flowers.
Hardy zones 3 to 8 in full sun to partial shade.

Dracocephalum arguense 'Fuji Blue'
A lower, compact form, reaching up to 1 x 1.5 foot, that is native to northeast Asia.
The intense bright blue flowers are borne on spikes all summer long.

'Fuji White'
Identical to 'Fuji Blue' except for having pure white flowers.

Dracocephalum grandiflorum
A rhizomatous, mat-forming with upright stemmed perennial, reaching up to 1 foot in height, that is native to Siberia.
The toothed elliptical leaves are mid-green.
The intense mid-blue flowers, up to 1.5 inches long, are borne on short spikes all summer long.
Hardy zones 3 to 7 in full sun to partial shade on just about any fertile, well drained soil.

'Altai Blue'
Very large, deep blue flowers; otherwise identical to species.

Dracocephalum rupestre
A compact perennial, reaching up to 15 x 15 inches in size, that is native to Mongolia and western China. It is similar to Dracocephalum grandiflorum except for having leaves with either little or no leafstalk.
The triangular leaves, up to 2.2 x 1.8 inches in size, are mid-green. The leaves can be used to make tea.
The abundant, intense purplish-blue flowers, up to 2 inches long, are borne on short spikes mid-summer to early autumn.
Hardy zones 4 to 8 in full sun to partial shade on just about any fertile, well drained soil.

Dracocephalum ruyschianum ( Nordic Dragonhead )
A perennial, reaching up to 2 x 1.5 ( rarely over 1 ) feet in height, that is a widepspread native of Eurasia ( from Norway to Siberia; south to the Pyrenees to northern Turkey to central Asia and northwest China ). It is usually found on mountain grasslands in the wild.
The lance-shaped leaves, up to 2.8 inches in length, are deep green.
The blue flowers, up to 1 inch in length, are borne on short spikes of 2 to 6, during early to mid summer.
Hardy zones 4 to 8 in full sun on just about any fertile, well drained soil.

'Blue Dragon'
Slightly larger flowers; otherwise similar to species.

* photo taken on July 10 2013 in Burtonsville, MD

* photo taken on Sep 23 2013 in Burtonsville, MD

* photos taken on June 22 2014 in Howard Co., MD

Dracocephalum tanguticum
A perennial, reaching up to 1.8 feet tall, that is native to grassy riverbanks and pine forest edge in northwestern and central China.
The elliptical leaves are up to 3 x 1.6 inches in size. The fine-textured foliage is luxuriant deep green.
The intense mid-blue flowers appear early summer into early autumn.
Hardy zones 4 to 8 in full sun to partial shade ( light mid-day shade preferrable where summers are hot ) in full sun on sandy, well drained soil. Deer resistant.