Eastern False Dragonhead Physostegia purpurea
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Dracocephalum purpureum
- Phonetic Spelling
- fy-so-STEEJ-ee-uh pur-PUR-ee-uh
- Description
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Eastern false dragonhead is a perennial in the Lamiaceae (mint) family native to the southeastern U.S.A. In NC, it can be found in the coastal plains and coastal areas in wet savannas, savanna-swamp ecotones and ditches adjacent to former pinelands in moist, well-drained sandy soils, without humus. It is not salt tolerant.
The purple flowers are somewhat showy with a long bloom season from May to August. They attract pollinators and hummingbirds. Use this plant in full sun in bogs, swamps or wet savannas in coastal areas.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Physostegia
- Species:
- purpurea
- Family:
- Lamiaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Southeastern U.S.A.
- Distribution:
- NC, SC, GA, FL
- Wildlife Value:
- This plant attracts songbirds, hummingbirds, and bees.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 6 in.
- Width: 40 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 2 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Perennial
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Sand
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Wet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Schizocarp
- Fruit Description:
- Olive-brown fruit displays from June to September.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Raceme
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Lipped
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Description:
- 5-lobed, 2-lipped pinkish-purple flowers with 4 stamens bloom from May to Aug.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Leaf Margin:
- Dentate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Lance-shaped green leaves with slightly toothed margins
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Square
- Stem Description:
- Square green stems
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Pond
- Riparian
- Landscape Theme:
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rain Garden
- Water Garden
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Hummingbirds
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Wet Soil
