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Obedient Plant Physostegia virginiana 'Miss Manners'

Other Common Name(s):

Other plants called Obedient Plant:

Phonetic Spelling
fy-so-STEE-jee-ah vir-jin-ee-AY-nah
Description

'Miss Manners' Obedient Plant is a naturally occurring seedling of Physostegia virginiana 'Rosea' but it maintains its compact habit and does not spread as widely.  It grows best in moist, well-drained, moderately fertile soil and sun to partial shade.  

In the mint family, the obedient plant gets its name from the ability of the flowers on the stalk to be twisted into any position, where they will remain.  A great choice for a meadow or pollinator garden as it is visited by bees, hummingbirds and other pollinators.  

The flowers are 1" tubular and white, borne on a showy terminal spike.  The corolla is swollen at the throat, the upper lip is domed, the lower lip is spreading and has three lobes. Miss Manners is shorter so staking is not usually necessary. Also, it will rebloom summer to fall. Each spike of flowers bloom starting at the bottom and working their way up the spike to the top.  

Problems: Susceptible to black spot fungal disease

More information on Physostegia virginiana.

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#hummingbird friendly#showy flowers#white flowers#nectar plant#summer flowers#deer resistant#rhizomatous#cutting garden#pollinator plant#flowers late summer#compact habit#butterfly friendly#nectar plant late summer#nectar plant early fall#flowers early fall#bee friendly#container plant
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#hummingbird friendly#showy flowers#white flowers#nectar plant#summer flowers#deer resistant#rhizomatous#cutting garden#pollinator plant#flowers late summer#compact habit#butterfly friendly#nectar plant late summer#nectar plant early fall#flowers early fall#bee friendly#container plant
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Physostegia
    Species:
    virginiana
    Family:
    Lamiaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Division
    Wildlife Value:
    Attracts bees, butterflies, hummingbirds
    Play Value:
    Attracts Pollinators
    Wildlife Food Source
    Dimensions:
    Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 6 in.
    Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 6 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Perennial
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Erect
    Multi-stemmed
    Maintenance:
    Medium
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Texture:
    Clay
    Loam (Silt)
    Sand
    Soil pH:
    Alkaline (>8.0)
    Neutral (6.0-8.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    Occasionally Wet
    Available Space To Plant:
    12 inches-3 feet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    White
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Spike
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Good Cut
    Long Bloom Season
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Fall
    Summer
    Flower Shape:
    Lipped
    Tubular
    Flower Petals:
    2-3 rays/petals
    fused petals
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    1 in. white flowers borne in a showy terminal spike and resemble snapdragons. The corolla is swollen at the throat, the upper lip is domed, the lower lip spreading with three lobes. Blooms in late summer to early fall.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Feel:
    Smooth
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Opposite
    Leaf Shape:
    Lanceolate
    Leaf Margin:
    Doubly Serrate
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Description:
    Narrow doubly serrate opposite leaves.
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Green
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Cross Section:
    Square
    Stem Description:
    Upright stiff square stems
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Container
    Meadow
    Naturalized Area
    Patio
    Pond
    Walkways
    Woodland
    Landscape Theme:
    Butterfly Garden
    Cutting Garden
    Pollinator Garden
    Rain Garden
    Design Feature:
    Border
    Mass Planting
    Small groups
    Attracts:
    Butterflies
    Hummingbirds
    Pollinators