Dracocephalum Forrestii

Dracocephalum forrestii is a rare Yunnan alpine forming dense rhizomatous clumps of finely divided, aromatic foliage. Short stems carry rich blue-purple, two-lipped flowers in summer, each bloom resembling the open mouth of a dragon and giving the genus its name. Found on rocky subalpine slopes at roughly 2,300-3,500 metres, it combines vivid colour with a compact, tidy habit. The species commemorates plant collector George Forrest, whose expeditions introduced many Chinese plants to cultivation. It is ideal for a sunny trough or raised scree with sharp drainage.