Overview
Dracocephalum is a clump forming herbaceous perennial in the genus Dracocephalum, part of the Lamiaceae family, with deciduous foliage. Dracocephalum grows best in full sun and partial shade, and tolerates most soils and any pH. Its UK hardiness is rated H6. Suggested uses include city and courtyard gardens, cottage and informal garden, gravel garden, banks and slopes and flower borders and beds. It is native to Afghanistan, Alaska, Albania, Alberta, Algeria, Altay, Amur, Arizona, Austria, Baltic States, Belarus, British Columbia, Bulgaria, Buryatiya, Central European Russia, China North-Central, China South-Central, Chita, Colorado, Connecticut, Czechia-Slovakia, Delaware, East European Russia, East Himalaya, France, Germany, Greece, Gulf States, Hungary, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Inner Mongolia, Iowa, Iran, Iraq, Irkutsk, Italy, Japan, Kamchatka, Kazakhstan, Khabarovsk, Kirgizstan, Korea, Krasnoyarsk, Krym, Kuril Is., Kuwait, Labrador, Lebanon-Syria, Magadan, Maine, Manchuria, Manitoba, Massachusetts, Mexico Northwest, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Mongolia, Montana, Morocco, Nebraska, Nepal, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Newfoundland, North Carolina, North Caucasus, North Dakota, North European Russia, Northwest European Russia, Norway, Nova Scotia, NW. Balkan Pen., Ohio, Oman, Ontario, Oregon, Pakistan, Palestine, Pennsylvania, Poland, Primorye, Qinghai, Québec, Rhode I., Romania, Sakhalin, Saskatchewan, Saudi Arabia, Sinai, South Dakota, South European Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tadzhikistan, Thailand, Tibet, Transcaucasus, Turkmenistan, Tuva, Türkiye, Ukraine, Utah, Uzbekistan, Vermont, Washington, West Himalaya, West Siberia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, Xinjiang and Yakutiya.
About
Dracocephalum is an herbaceous perennial in the Lamiaceae that forms a clump of deciduous foliage. It carries the common name dragon head for its distinctive flowers and reliably blooms from July to September. Plant it in full sun or partial shade on well-drained chalk, loam or sand soils. Rated H6, it is very hardy for UK conditions and suits both exposed and sheltered sites.
About the genus
Dracocephalum is a genus of flowering plants in the family Lamiaceae, native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. These flowers, collectively called dragonhead, are annual or perennial herbaceous plants or subshrubs, growing to 15 to 90 centimeters tall.
Growing conditions
Best soil and position for Dracocephalum
- Sunlight
- Full sun, Partial shade
- Soil type
- Chalk, Loam, Sand
- Soil pH
- Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
- Soil moisture
- Well-drained
- Aspect
- East-facing, South-facing, West-facing
- Exposure
- Exposed, Sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H6
Plant details
Dracocephalum size, habit and characteristics
- Plant type
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Habit
- Clump forming
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Suggested uses
- City and courtyard gardens, Cottage and informal garden, Gravel garden, Banks and slopes, Flower borders and beds
- Native to
- Afghanistan, Alaska, Albania, Alberta, Algeria, Altay, Amur, Arizona, Austria, Baltic States, Belarus, British Columbia, Bulgaria, Buryatiya, Central European Russia, China North-Central, China South-Central, Chita, Colorado, Connecticut, Czechia-Slovakia, Delaware, East European Russia, East Himalaya, France, Germany, Greece, Gulf States, Hungary, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Inner Mongolia, Iowa, Iran, Iraq, Irkutsk, Italy, Japan, Kamchatka, Kazakhstan, Khabarovsk, Kirgizstan, Korea, Krasnoyarsk, Krym, Kuril Is., Kuwait, Labrador, Lebanon-Syria, Magadan, Maine, Manchuria, Manitoba, Massachusetts, Mexico Northwest, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Mongolia, Montana, Morocco, Nebraska, Nepal, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Newfoundland, North Carolina, North Caucasus, North Dakota, North European Russia, Northwest European Russia, Norway, Nova Scotia, NW. Balkan Pen., Ohio, Oman, Ontario, Oregon, Pakistan, Palestine, Pennsylvania, Poland, Primorye, Qinghai, Québec, Rhode I., Romania, Sakhalin, Saskatchewan, Saudi Arabia, Sinai, South Dakota, South European Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tadzhikistan, Thailand, Tibet, Transcaucasus, Turkmenistan, Tuva, Türkiye, Ukraine, Utah, Uzbekistan, Vermont, Washington, West Himalaya, West Siberia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, Xinjiang, Yakutiya
Care notes
Pruning and caring for Dracocephalum
- Propagation
- Division, Basal cuttings in spring
- Pest resistance
- Generally pest-free
- Disease resistance
- Generally disease-free
Frequently asked questions
Where is the best place to plant Dracocephalum?
Dracocephalum prefers full sun and partial shade. It suits exposed and sheltered positions.
What soil does Dracocephalum need?
Dracocephalum is adaptable and grows happily in most soil types, including chalk, loam and sand. It is happy in soil of any pH. Aim for soil that stays well-drained.
Is Dracocephalum hardy in the UK?
Dracocephalum has an RHS hardiness rating of H6, meaning it is very hardy, tolerating -20 to -15°C across most of the UK.
How do I propagate Dracocephalum?
Division, Basal cuttings in spring.
More in the Dracocephalum genus
- Dracocephalum grandiflorumbetony-leaved dragonhead
- Dracocephalum imberbe
- Dracocephalum moldavicaMoldavian balm
- Dracocephalum nutans
- Dracocephalum arguense 'Fuji Blue'
- Dracocephalum bungeanum
- Dracocephalum paulsenii
- Dracopcephalum rupestre