Species northern dragonhead
blue-violet flowers with green sepals, green leaves with green midribs and a light-green stem

northern dragonhead

Dracocephalum ruyschiana

Northern dragonhead, or Dracocephalum ruyschiana, is an amazing plant, prized for its long-lasting blooms and its vibrant colors. It loves full sun and prefers dry, cold locations. Its drooping clusters of fragrant purplish-pink flowers bloom prolifically from late spring to early summer, bringing a burst of beauty to any garden. In addition, its dense cushion-like foliage turns golden-bronze when the weather cools off in autumn. With minimal care, northern dragonhead is easy to grow and a stunning addition to any garden!

Cycle:

Herbaceous Perennial

Watering:

Average

Propagation:

Division,Cutting,Seed Propagation,Layering Propagation

Hardiness Zone:

3 - 7

Flowers:

Blue Flowers

Sun:

Full sun,part shade

Fruits:

brown,gray,gray Fruits Ready In Summer

Leaf:

Yes

Leaf Color:

green,red,purple

Growth Rate:

Low

Maintenance:

Low

Salt Tolerant:

Yes

Thorny:

Yes

Care Level:

Medium

watering

Northern dragonhead should be watered evenly and deeply. Water when the soil is dry about 1 inch below the surface and provide about 1 inch of water per week. Make sure to water at the base of the plant and not the foliage to reduce disease. Avoid letting the soil become overly wet or soggy between watering. During dry periods in the summer, additional water may be needed.

sunlight

Northern dragonhead needs at least 4 hours of sunlight a day. It does best in a sunny location with some afternoon shade. If grown in too much shade, the plants will become leggy and may fail to flower. If grown in too much sun, the leaves can become scorched and the plants may not flower. Northern dragonhead generally prefers light soil with good drainage.

pruning

Northern dragonhead (Dracocephalum ruyschiana) should be pruned during the early spring (late March or early April) and again in the mid to late summer (July or August). Pruning should be done moderately with an eye for maintaining the natural bush look. Cut off dead, diseased, or wilted branches. Also, if some stems are crowding others that are trying to grow, they can be trimmed off to encourage healthy growth. Overall, each individual plant should be shaped and maintained to achieve and maintain an attractive appearance.

Season

Fall
Winter
Spring
Summer
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Starts Flowering

Northern dragonhead typically starts flowering in June.

Harvest Fruit

The harvesting of Dracocephalum ruyschiana, or northern dragonhead, typically begins in July and continues through August.

Hardiness Map