Dracocephalum

Superficially similar to nepetas, with large flowers in a similar colour palette of blues and purples, but plants more compact and tolerant of drier conditions.  Its name derives from the Greek ‘drakon’ - dragon and ‘kephale’  - head, referring to the dramatic nature of the flowers.

As with most members of the mint family (Lamiaceae), the flowers are a very important nectar source for larger insects, particularly bumblebees, butterflies and bee-flies. They also attract beneficial predators such as ladybirds, and in some parts of the world, certain species are sown as bird-seed crops, although we cannot vouch for such uses here.