False Dragon Head Physostegia virginiana
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- fy-so-STAY-jee-ah vir-jin-ee-AY-nah
- Description
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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. It can be invasive in rich, moist soils, so gardeners should divide clumps every year or so to keep plants contained, and pull out plants invading other parts of the garden. A great choice for a meadow or native garden as it is visited by bees, hummingbirds and other pollinators.
The flowers are 1" pale purple to rose, 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. Its stems may flop in rich soils, shade or hot temperatures, making staking of taller plants necessary. Each spike of flowers bloom starting at the bottom and working their way up the spike to the top.
Obedient plants grow best in moist, well-drained, moderately fertile soil and sun to part sun. In the wild, they can be found in wet meadows, barrens and glades, seepages in open woods, damp thickets, among other sites. It does grow in open upland forests as long as the soil is quite high in pH. Uncommon to infrequent in the NC mountains. They can be propagated by seed or by the division of roots in the spring.
Problems: Susceptible to blackspot fungal disease.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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'Miss Manners'
- 'Summer Snow'
White flowers
White flowers, non-spreading clumping compact growth non drooping stems - 'Summer Snow'
- 'Miss Manners', 'Summer Snow'
- Tags:







- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
-
'Miss Manners'
- 'Summer Snow'
White flowers
White flowers, non-spreading clumping compact growth non drooping stems - 'Summer Snow'
- 'Miss Manners', 'Summer Snow'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Physostegia
- Species:
- virginiana
- Family:
- Lamiaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Eastern North America, North Carolina
- Fire Risk Rating:
- low flammability
- Wildlife Value:
- Attracts bees, butterflies, hummingbirds.
- Play Value:
- Attracts Pollinators
- Wildlife Food Source
- Dimensions:
- Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Perennial
- Wildflower
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Multi-stemmed
- Maintenance:
- Medium
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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:
- 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Description:
- Displays from August to November.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Spike
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Good Cut
- Long Bloom Season
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Tubular
- Flower Petals:
- 2-3 rays/petals
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- 1 in. pale purple to rose flowers borne in a showy terminal spike. The corolla is swollen at the throat, the upper lip is domed, the lower lip spreading with three lobes. Blooms from July to October.
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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:
- Sharply toothed, lance-shaped leaves.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Square
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- Smooth, erect, often-branching stem.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
- Patio
- Pond
- Riparian
- Walkways
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Cottage Garden
- Cutting Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rain Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Small groups
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Hummingbirds
- Pollinators
- Problems:
- Weedy