Dracocephalum moldavica aka Moldavian Dragonhead

Dracocephalum moldavica is an annual in the mint family, Lamiaceae. Its common names include Moldavian balm and Moldavian dragonhead. Its native range runs from Iran to the Russian Far East. It grows in temperate parts of Asia, including Siberia and China. In western China, it grows on dry hills and stony riverbanks. It also grows in valleys across a wide range of elevations.

Plants reach about 1 foot (0.3 m) tall. Both leaves and flowers give off a clear lemon scent. The flowers hold their scent and stay fresh for several weeks. This makes the plant useful where gardeners can enjoy its scent. Pinching the shoot tips in May helps produce bushier growth. As an annual, it completes its life cycle within one year. Its small size suits gaps among plants in summer beds.

Flowers appear from July to August, according to Plants For A Future. Each flower has both male and female organs. Insects pollinate the flowers. The supplied species evidence gives no details about fruit or seed appearance. Grow this plant in sun for the conditions recommended for cultivation. It can also grow in light shade. It prefers fertile soil that drains well but stays moist. Suitable soil textures include sand, loam and clay. It accepts mildly acid, neutral and mildly alkaline soils.

Sow seed where the plants will grow in early spring. Plants For A Future lists USDA hardiness zones 6–9. It also gives a UK zone of 7, not an RHS rating. Its annual life cycle matters when interpreting these hardiness figures. Garden uses include scented plantings and filling gaps in summer borders. Some growers also raise it for its essential oil. That oil offers a possible source of citral. Plants For A Future does not flag the species as weedy.

The leaves can make a lemon-scented tea. Plants For A Future also lists young shoots as edible. It gives no further details about how to prepare those shoots. Reported medicinal uses include astringent, tonic and wound-care uses. The seeds have also served in traditional remedies for fever and gas. These reports do not establish that the treatments work. Plants For A Future lists no known hazards. The supplied evidence does not identify specific pests or diseases.