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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

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:
Tags:
#hummingbird friendly#water garden#purple flowers#native perennial#NC native#swamps#food source summer#food source nectar#food source pollen#Coastal FACW#Piedmont Mountains FACW#sandy soils tolerant#wet soils tolerant#bird friendly#food source hard mast fruit#bee friendly#Audubon#boggy sites
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#hummingbird friendly#water garden#purple flowers#native perennial#NC native#swamps#food source summer#food source nectar#food source pollen#Coastal FACW#Piedmont Mountains FACW#sandy soils tolerant#wet soils tolerant#bird friendly#food source hard mast fruit#bee friendly#Audubon#boggy sites
  • 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.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Native Plant
    Perennial
  • 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
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Summer
    Fruit Type:
    Schizocarp
    Fruit Description:
    Olive-brown fruit displays from June to September.
  • 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.
  • 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
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Green
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Cross Section:
    Square
    Stem Description:
    Square green stems
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Pond
    Riparian
    Landscape Theme:
    Native Garden
    Pollinator Garden
    Rain Garden
    Water Garden
    Attracts:
    Bees
    Hummingbirds
    Songbirds
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Wet Soil