Obedient Plant
Physostegia virginiana
Also known as: False Dragonhead
Snapdragon-like flowers in four-sided spikes — each flower stays put when pushed sideways (hence 'obedient'). Aggressive rhizomatous spreader in good soil; contain in a defined bed.
- Family
- Lamiaceae
- Type
- wildflower
- Lifespan
- perennial
- Height
- 3–4 ft
- Spacing
- 2–3 ft apart
- Light
- sun, part shade, shade
- Soil moisture
- moist
- Soil pH
- alkaline, neutral
- Bloom
- August, September, October, November
- Bloom colors
- white, pink, purple
- Wildlife value
- hummingbirds, pollinators
- Landscape uses
- border, naturalizing, rain garden
- Native states
- AL, AR, CT, DC, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, ND, NE, NJ, NM, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WI, WV
Related native plants
More Physostegia species
- Narrowleaf Obedient Plant (Physostegia angustifolia)
- Eastern False Dragonhead (Physostegia purpurea)
- Beautiful False Dragonhead (Physostegia pulchella)
- Finger Obedient Plant (Physostegia digitalis)