Vigorous Maryland Native Plants: Physostegia virginiana – Obedient Plant
Maryland Native Plants
Physostegia virginiana – Obedient Plant
Physostegia virginiana, also known as Obedient Plant, is a robust perennial wildflower that has bold lance shaped leaves. In late summer and early fall the foliage is topped by graceful lavender, pinkish, or white spikey inflorescences. Individual florets are tubular and similar to snapdragons. These plants thrive in prairie type settings as well as sunny gardens. If planted in locations that receive less sun they are likely to flop. This species is endemic to damp areas such as to moist or mesic Blackland prairies, limestone glades, woodland edges, moist meadows, thickets, seeps, and also moist roadside or railroad right-of-ways.
A great thing about obedient plant is its tolerance for clay loam, sandy loam, gravelly soil, alkaline or acid pH, heat and some drought. It should be noted that in the ideal conditions this plant will spread aggressively by seeding as well as rhizomes. In times of drought the lower leaves may turn yellow and defoliate.
Physostegia virginiana has an upright growing habit and tap-root structure. Tubular florets appear at the bottom of the stalk with pearl-like flower buds above and the youngest green buds at the tip. Bloom time lasts for about six weeks in late summer. This plant is especially attractive to long tongued pollinators such as native bees, hummingbirds, and butterflies. Mature plants can reach 3-4’ tall and have a spread to 2-3’. Plants are generally pest resistant and are not palatable to deer. Try pairing Physostegia virginiana with Asclepias tuberosa, Amsonia tabernaemontana, Echinacea purpurea, Panicum virgatum, Rudbeckia fulgida, Schizachyrium scoparium or Sorghastrum nutans.
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Latin Name: Physostegia virginiana
Common Name: obedient plant
Type: Herbaceous perennial
Family: Lamiaceae
Height: 3.00 to 4.00 feet
Spread: 2.00 to 3.00 feet
Roots: Rhizomes – can spread aggressively, not meant for small gardens
Bloom Time: June to September
Bloom Description: White to Pink
Sun: Full sunWater: Medium
Maintenance: Medium
Suggested Use: Naturalize, Rain Garden
Flower: Showy, Good Cut
Attracts: Hummingbirds
Tolerate: Clay Soil
Host Plant: Endothenia hebesana
(Information from New Moon Nursery)
Obedient Plant flowers closeup
Obedient Plant massed
