Sativa - Dragons Head – Seeds

• Aromatic tea herb: The leaves and flowers make a refreshing, lemony tea that is a delight served both hot and ice-cold.
• Insect magnet: During the flowering season in July and August, the dragonhead transforms into a vibrant bee pasture. It is particularly popular with bumblebees and wild bees.
• Edible decoration: The pretty purple flowers are edible and add a visual and flavourful touch to summer salads, desserts or cold drinks.

Cultivation & Location

The dragonhead is easy to grow and develops rapidly:

• Location: Prefers full sun to light partial shade in well-drained garden soil.
• Sowing: Direct sowing outdoors is possible from late April/May. The seeds germinate reliably within 1–2 weeks.
• Growth: The plant grows upright and branches well, especially if the young shoots are pinched back occasionally.
• Life cycle: Annual. However, as the dragonhead produces abundant seeds, it often self-seeds in suitable locations for the following year.

Key planting information

• Botanical name: Dracocephalum moldavica
• Lifespan: Annual
• Sowing depth: 1–2 cm (germinates in the dark)
• Spacing within the row: 50–70 cm
• Spacing between rows: 40–50 cm
• Height: 30–50 cm

Culinary uses

• Lemon tea: Simply pour hot water over a few stems and leave to steep for approx. 5–8 minutes.
• Cooking: Finely chopped, the herb goes excellently with fish, poultry or in fruity quark dishes.
• Oil extraction: The seeds contain valuable essential oils, which are occasionally used in naturopathy.

Ecological contribution: Bee-friendly

This plant is labelled bee-friendly. During the summer months of July and August, the dragonhead provides a reliable source of nectar when other herbs have often already finished flowering. As it is valued by both generalist bees (such as the honeybee) and specialised wild bee species, it is a valuable contributor to biodiversity in your garden.