obedient plant

(Physostegia virginiana)

Overview
common obedient plant
 
 

Physostegia virginiana, commonly known as obedient plant or false dragonhead, is a perennial flowering plant native to eastern North America. It belongs to the mint family (Lamiaceae) and is known for its attractive spikes of flowers. It typically blooms from mid to late summer, usually from July to September. The flowers attract pollinators such as bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.

The common name "obedient plant" comes from the ability of its individual flowers to be moved and repositioned without breaking the stem. If you push a flower to one side, it will remain in that position until moved again, hence giving it the appearance of being obedient.

 
 

Obedient plant is often grown as an ornamental plant in gardens and landscaping. It can be propagated through seeds or division of clumps in early spring or fall. It prefers moist soil conditions but can tolerate periods of drought once established. Regular watering and mulching can help retain soil moisture.

 
     
 
Description
 
 

Obedient plant typically grows to a height of 2 to 4 feet (60 to 120 cm) and forms clumps of erect stems. The leaves are lance-shaped, toothed, and arranged oppositely along the stem. The plant produces dense spikes of tubular flowers that can be pink, lavender, or occasionally white white in color. The flowers are arranged in a vertical column and resemble snapdragon flowers.

 
     
 
Distribution
 
 

Distribution Map

 

Sources

2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 28, 29, 30.

 
  6/18/2023      
         
 
Taxonomy
 
  Kingdom Plantae (green algae and land plants)  
  Subkingdom Viridiplantae (green plants)  
  Infrakingdom Streptophyta (land plants and green algae)  
  Superdivision Embryophyta (land plants)  
  Division Tracheophyta (vascular plants)  
  Subdivision Spermatophytina (seed plants)  
  Class Magnoliopsida (flowering plants)  
  Superorder Asteranae  
 

Order

Lamiales (mints, plantains, olives, and allies)  
 

Family

Lamiaceae (mint)  
  Subfamily Lamioideae  
  Tribe Synandreae  
  Genus Physostegia (dragonheads and obedient plants)  
       
 

Subordinate Taxa

 
 

common obedient plant (Physostegia virginiana ssp. virginiana)

southern obedient plant (Physostegia virginiana ssp. praemorsa)

 
       
 

Physostegia virginiana is a highly variable species. Many varieties and subspecies have been described. An analysis of several varieties and subspecies (Cantino, 1982) concluded that only two subspecies should be recognized, and they roughly equate to the northern and the southern groups. The northern subspecies P. v. ssp. virginiana is the only subspecies that occurs in Minnesota. USDA PLANTS shows the southern subspecies P. v. ssp. praemorsa also native to Minnesota, however no records of that subspecies in the state can be found.

 
       
 

Synonyms

 
 

 

 
       
 

Common Names

 
 

false dragonhead

obedience

obedient plant

obedient-plant

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
Visitor Photos
 
           
 

Share your photo of this plant.

 
  This button not working for you?
Simply email us at info@MinnesotaSeasons.com.
Attach one or more photos and, if you like, a caption.
 
 

 

 
 

 

 
           
           
 
MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos
 
     
           
           

 

Camera

     
 
Slideshows
 
  Physostegia virginiana
Susanne Wiik
 
  Physostegia virginiana  
 
About

Virginialeddblomst Obedience

 

 

slideshow

       
 
Visitor Videos
 
       
 

Share your video of this plant.

 
  This button not working for you?
Simply email us at info@MinnesotaSeasons.com.
Attach a video, a YouTube link, or a cloud storage link.
 
 

 

 
     
     
       
       
 
Other Videos
 
  Physostegia virginiana Obedient Plant
QuipTV
 
   
 
About

Published on Sep 17, 2012

Physostegia virginiana Obedient Plant
Type: Herbaceous perennial
Family: Lamiaceae
Zone: 3 to 9
Height: 3 to 4 feet
Spread: 2 to 3 feet
Bloom Time: June to September
Bloom Color: Pink, White
Bloom Description: Pink, white
Sun: Full sun
Water: Medium
Maintenance: Medium
Flowers: Showy Flowers
Wildlife: Attracts Hummingbirds
Tolerates: Clay Soil, Deer

   
  Obedient plant (Physostegia virginiana) at Rainbow Falls, Horsepasture River, NC
colong7034
 
   
 
About

Published on Sep 16, 2013

Obedient plant (Physostegia virginiana) at Rainbow Falls, Horsepasture River, Pisgah National Forest, NC. Shot 9/5/13. Saw only the one dark (female) Eastern Tiger Swallowtail butterfly (Papilio glaucus). Two days earlier there were several yellow Swallowtails in the same location.

   
  カクトラノオとカラスアゲハ Chinese peacock flying around Physostegia virginiana
akimityful
 
   
 
About

Uploaded on Sep 6, 2011

「はるかの庭」のカクトラノオが満開になった。
そのカクトラノオのまわりをカラスアゲハが飛び回っている。

   
  Bumblebee on False Dragonhead トラマルハナバチ♀がハナトラノオを訪花
sigma1920HD
 
   
 
About

Published on Nov 7, 2013

Foraging workers of bumblebee (Bombus diversus diversus, family Apidae) visiting purple flowers of obedient plant (aka false dragonhead; Physostegia virginiana, family Lamiaceae) for nectar and pollen. Late-August 2013 in Japan.

日本語による詳細はブログをご覧下さい。

http://sigma-nature-vlog.blogspot.jp/2013/11/blog-post_2367.html

ハナトラノオを訪花するトラマルハナバチ♀

   
  Carpenter Bee DOESN'T Pollinate False Dragonhead
Robert Klips
 
   
 
About

Published on Aug 24, 2012

The Carpenter bee is a notorious nectar robber, often cutting holes in the base of tubular flowers instead of entering them legitimately in a manner that would effect pollination. They also drink from holes cut by previous visitors. This flower is false dragongead, Physostegia virginiana, a perennial wildflower in the mint family (Lamiaceae) growing at a reconstructed prairie in Marion, Ohio, USA.

   

 

Camcorder

 
 
Visitor Sightings
 
           
 

Report a sighting of this plant.

 
  This button not working for you?
Simply email us at info@MinnesotaSeasons.com.
Be sure to include a location.
 
   

 

   
           
 
MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings
 
   

 

 

Binoculars


Last Updated:

About Us | Privacy Policy | Contact Us | © MinnesotaSeasons.com.com. All rights reserved.