Rank Species | Genus Physostegia Higher classification Physostegia | |
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Similar Physostegia, Lamiaceae, Bee balm, Chelone, Gayfeather | ||
Physostegia virginiana obedient plant
Physostegia virginiana (obedient plant, obedience, or false dragonhead) is a species of flowering plant in the mint family, Lamiaceae. It is native to North America, where it is distributed from eastern Canada to northern Mexico. Physostegia are known commonly as obedient plants because a flower pushed to one side will often stay in that position. The name false dragonhead refers to the dragonheads of the related Dracocephalum, a genus to which the plant once belonged.
Contents
- Physostegia virginiana obedient plant
- Help the bees plant obedient plant physostegia virginiana
- Description
- Cultivation
- Cultivars
- References
Help the bees plant obedient plant physostegia virginiana
Description
It is a rhizomatous perennial herb producing clumps of stiff, squared stems 2 to 4 feet tall. The leaves are lance-shaped and toothed. It has long, dense spikes of lipped, pinkish, "snapdragon-like" flowers in the summer.
There are two recognized subspecies. The ssp. praemorsa is more widespread farther south, to Texas and New Mexico, and the ssp. virginiana extends farther north and west.
Cultivation
It is considered a good plant for adding late-season flowers to a garden. Fertile soils produce robust growth and wide spreading, and the plant may require staking. When it grows tall it has a "tendency toward floppiness" that can be controlled with pruning. It can be aggressive and dominate a landscape.
Cultivars
Several cultivars have been bred for color variety. Some (agm) have earned the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.
Cultivars include.
