Dracocephalum parviflorum aka American Dragonhead

Dracocephalum parviflorum also goes by the name American dragonhead. It belongs to Lamiaceae, the mint family. Its native range spans much of North America. Kew maps it from Alaska through Canada to northern Baja California, Mexico. Records cover many western and north-central states in the United States. It grows in temperate lands and copes with cool growing seasons. Sources differ on how long it lives. PFAF calls it annual or biennial: one or two years. Kew lists it as biennial or perennial: two years or more.

Plants reach about 2.3 feet (0.7 metres) tall. They spread about 1.3 feet (0.4 metres) wide. Dense groups of flowers and seeds give the plant its form. Bracts, leaf-like parts with sharp teeth, ring these groups. They help hold the seeds once they ripen. The leaves add scent and flavour to food. Flowers bloom from July to August. Each flower has both male and female organs. Insects pollinate them and gather nectar and pollen.

Wild plants grow on dry ground rich in lime. This ground may have rocks or gravel. They also grow in new clearings and mountain meadows. For garden plants, PFAF favours full sun and moist soil that drains well. The plant accepts light shade, too. It grows in sand, loam or clay soil. It copes with mildly acid to strongly alkaline soil. PFAF lists USDA zones 3–9. Growers can sow seeds in open ground. Spring moisture may help plants take hold. So may sites with few other plants to crowd them.

American dragonhead suits garden beds and loose meadow plantings. Its texture, summer flowers and seed heads add garden value. Its show is modest, not one of large, bold blooms. The flowers feed meadow insects with nectar and pollen. PFAF notes some risk of weeds but gives no details on spread. The supplied account notes little insect damage to seeds at harvest. It gives no wider account of pests or diseases. The toothed bracts can scratch skin when you gather seeds. Gloves help shield hands when you handle ripe heads.

Seeds are the main part people eat. Leaves add flavour. You can toast or boil seeds, or grind them into meal. PFAF also notes eating small amounts raw. The seeds come free of chaff with little work. They taste mild and stay held in the calyces, or flower cups. Past folk remedies used this plant for fever, headaches and diarrhoea. People also used leaves in eye washes. These records show past use, not proven health benefits. The evidence does not show whether it is safe for pets. Nor does it establish whether the plant is toxic in general.