Dracocephalum ruyschiana

To our eye, the sky-blue flowers more resemble hyperventilating turtles than dragons.  Whatever their resemblance, they're an arresting sight when they open in early summer, arrayed in abbreviated spikes atop compact stems.  Northern dragonhead does well in just about any well-drained soil that's not too parched

Full sun to light shade; moist to dry soil (drought tolerant); 10"x10"; early summer; Zone 4

Propagated from seed; deep 3.5-inch pots

Photo: delirium florens

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