Id-Code: DA 486
Family: Lamiaceae, Labiatae
Origin: Altai Mountains of Southern Russia/Mongolia
Special Features: Intense blue hooded flowers on a compact plant
History: Introduced by JELITTO PERENNIAL SEEDS in 2004. This is the true D. grandiflorum previously scarce in cultivation (not to be confused with D. rupestre)
Colour: Intense blue
Natural Flowering Period: July - August
Winter Hardiness Zones: Z3-7
Growth Habit: Dense, bushy mound
Foliage: Dark green basal leaves
Height with Flower: 20 cm (8'')
Spacing between Plants: 30 cm (12'')
Soil Requirement: Well-drained soils, pH 6.0 - 7.0
Location: Full sun (some afternoon shade in hot summer climates)
Use: Use 'Altai Blue' in the rock garden with Scabiosa 'Pincushion Pink', Veronica 'Blue Feathers', Salvia 'Swan Lake', and Scutellaria 'Arcobaleno'
Specialities: Cute as a potted plant

Cultural Tips:
Grams per 1000 seeds: 5,882
Seeds per Gram: 170
Seeding Recommendation: 15 g / 1000 plants
Sowing Rate: 2-3 seeds per cell
Plug tray recommended size(s): 72 or 128
Germination: These perennial seeds germinate very irregularly over a long period. Lower temperatures of less than +5°C [41°F] are very effective. Seed trays should not be discarded prematurely. Constant moisture must be maintained. Do not leave in direct sunlight.

Scheduling:
Best Sowing Date: November - March
Sowing to Germination: 4 - 8 weeks
Germination to Transplant: 4 - 8 weeks
Transplanting to salable Plant: 6 - 10 weeks
Cutting-Back at Transplanting: Not necessary

Growing On:
Container Size(s): 1-2 plugs per 11/12 cm (4 1/2'')
Vernalization: There is no current research on vernalization but a prudent recommendation for any perennial would be 6-12 weeks (a few might need 15 weeks!) at an average daily temperature of 40°F (5°C). Exposure to cold may not be necessary for flowering but might improve quality.
Forcing: An obvious place to experiment - following vernalization - would be raising daytime temperatures to 60° - 65°F (15° - 17°C). Provide 16 hours of continuous lighting. During the short days of winter, provide a night interruption lighting of 4 hours between 10:00 p.m. and 2:00 a.m.
Fertilization: Medium (150-200 ppm)