Description
Physostegia – Obedient Plant – False Dragon Head –
There are about 12 vigorous, erect, hairless, deciduous, rhizomatous perennials in the Lamiaceae family, in this genus. They occur in moist, sunny sites in Eastern North America. They have square stems and alternate pairs of 2-6″ long, narrow lance shaped, toothed leaves. In mid summer it bears almost stalkless, tubular to bell shaped, 2 lipped, lavender, purple, pink or white flowers, with flattish upper lips, 3 lobed lower lips, and tubular calyces, are held in sometimes branched racemes. The flowers remain in a new position if they are moved on the stalks, hence the common name. Grow in a border, good cut flowers.
Grow in fertile, reliably moist soil but well drained, in full sun or very light shade. Can be slightly invasive. Divide in winter or early spring before new growth.
Prone to rust and slugs.
P. virginiana ‘Variegata’ – P. virginiana subsp. speciosa ‘Variegata’ – P. speciosa – This spreading herbaceous perennial grows 3-4′ feet tall and 2′ or more wide. It produces lance shaped, elliptic, or spoon shaped, sharply toothed, grayish green leaves with white edges, to 5″ long. From mid summer to autumn it bears racemes of magenta flowers, to 1 1/4″ long, with inflated mouths.
Zones 2-8
