Perennial of the Lamiaceae family, native to Iran and the Caucasus, where it grows on dry rocky slopes and screes in full exposure. It is a species rarely found in collections, appreciated by rock garden specialists for its compact habit and generous flowering.
It forms a dense, spreading cushion, with short, woody stems at the base, reaching 15 to 20 cm in height. The leaves are small, narrow, lanceolate, grayish-green to slightly tomentose, aromatic when crushed. The flowers, gathered in very tight globular heads, are a deep magenta-pink, almost purplish, and stand out against densely hairy calyces of a very characteristic gray-violet. This contrast between the dark, woolly bracts and the brightly colored petals is one of the most striking aspects of the species when viewed up close.
In its natural habitat, its flowering extends from June to July. In cultivation, it occurs during the same period.
It requires full sun and perfect drainage, in poor to moderately fertile soil, dry in summer. Sensitive to stagnant winter moisture, it is more comfortable in an elevated rock garden or in a pot under cold shelter. Its exact hardiness remains to be confirmed according to local conditions.