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A perennial of the Lamiaceae family, this species is native to western China, notably Yunnan and Sichuan, where it grows in rocky screes, alpine meadows, and stony slopes at altitudes between approximately 3,000 and 4,500 meters.
It forms low, dense clumps, reaching 15 to 25 cm in height, with slightly reddish upright stems. The foliage is one of the most distinctive features of the species: the leaves are oval to heart-shaped, strongly bullate — that is, crinkled, with a bumpy surface and pronounced relief between the veins — of a deep green, with crenate margins, slightly pubescent to the touch.
The flowers are large, tubular, and bilabiate, of a rich and deep blue-violet, gathered in tight whorls that crown the stems in a dense and generous inflorescence. In its natural habitat, it blooms from July to August. In cultivation, it generally blooms from June to July.
This high mountain species requires perfect drainage, a sunny exposure, and rather poor soil, fresh without excess stagnant moisture. It withstands intense cold but fears prolonged winter humidity. Light protection in winter under rainy climates is advised. A choice plant for well-tended rock gardens and alpine container cultures.