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Dracocephalum rupestre | dragonhead

Regular price
$8.99
Regular price
Sale price
$8.99
Shipping calculated at checkout.

Grown from seed in living soil without the use of pesticides, chemicals, or carbon fuels.

Plants may ship dormant in early spring.

ships spring 2026


Altai dragonhead (Dracocephalum rupestre) can be found growing naturally on mountainsides and rocky scree in China, where it has been used for centuries to make tea. We love it for its heart-shaped leaves and deep purple-blue blooms. Grow it in the rock garden in full sun for best results. Perfect drainage is essential. Save seeds as these short-lived perennials self-sow only reluctantly. 

Zone: 4 to 8 
Family: Lamiaceae
Type: Herbaceous Perennial
Height: 9 to 12 in.
Spread: 9 to 12 in.
Exposure: full sun to part shade
Conditions: scree, well-drained, dry, best in the rock garden
Bloom Time: July to August
Native Range: Western China

HT3-n

Special Characteristics
  • Drought resistant
  • Aromatic
  • Groundcover
  • Edible
image credits

Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Close-up of purple flowers of Dracocephalum rupestre (dragonhead) with green leaves in the background
Dracocephalum rupestre (dragonhead) purple flowers with green leaves on a natural background
Dracocephalum rupestre (dragonhead) green leaves and purple flowers on a rocky ground

Ordering information

Preorders

You may place your order anytime to reserve plants for spring 2026 shipping. If you place multiple orders, we will combine plants into one box (or as many as needed) and any extra shipping charges will be refunded.

We will resume shipping plants as soon as plants are ready and temperatures are appropriate in our location and yours.

We will check in with you a week before shipping to make sure you receive your plants at a time that is convenient for you.

Shipping

Live plants ship in spring and fall only. Plants may ship dormant, depending on variety and season. Shipping costs are most reasonable when bundling like size plants.

  • 4-inch: 1-6 plants ship for $15.00 / 7-13 plants ship for $18.00 / 14-30 plants ship for $40.00
  • 1-gal: 1-2 plants ship for $18.00 / 3-4 plants ship for $25.00 / 5-6 plants ship for $40.00
  • trees & shrubs: $27.00-$40.00 each, height dependent
  • seeds: $6.75 or free with orders over $15.00

We regret that we cannot ship internationally or to the following states: AK, AZ, CA, CO, FL, HI, ID, MT, NV, OR, UT, or WA.

Read more about our shipping policies here.

Nursery pick up

We will email you to schedule a day and time to collect your plants when they are ready in spring. Generally, plants can be collected from the nursery Monday through Sunday from 10am-4pm in Spring, Summer, and Fall.

Plant Sizes

We most commonly use the following pot sizes for perennials:

  • 4-inch pot: 3.5" H x 3.5" W x 3.5" D
  • 2-quart pot: 6" H x 5.25" W x 5.25" D
  • 1-gallon pot: 6.87" H x 8" Dia (this is a true one gallon pot, not the smaller 'trade' one gallon pot used by many nurseries)

Check out our illustrated pot size guide here.

Representative trees & shrubs are photographed in their pots and posted on each plant page.

Sustainability

Sustainability is at the heart of what we do at The Old Dairy. We grow all of our plants outdoors without the use of chemicals, fertilizers, carbon fuels, or peat.

Many of our perennials are grown in the ground and dug upon order (this is especially true for larger sizes). This practice allows us to grow stronger, healthier plants using native soil, and ultimately reduces our impact on the environment.

Our open-pollinated seeds are collected from plants in our mother beds, which have never been treated with chemicals or sprays of any kind.

Read all about our sustainable practices here.

garden location coming soongarden location coming soon

view this plant in our garden

Dracocephalum rupestre | dragonhead |

seedling image

Dracocephalum rupestre | dragonhead

We are slowly creating a seedling image library to help make weeding easier.
garden location coming soongarden location coming soon