Skip to content

False Dragonhead, Obedient Plant

Physostegia Virginiana

Design with this plant

Overview

False Dragonhead, or Obedient Plant (Physostegia virginiana), is a robust perennial reaching 2-4 feet in height. Valued for its showy spires of pink to lavender tubular flowers, it blooms from late summer to fall. Thriving in zones 3-9, it prefers full sun to partial shade and moist, well-drained soil. Despite its name, it can spread aggressively, so consider root barriers for containment. Provides vibrant vertical interest and attracts pollinators.

Sun Full, Half, ShadeWater Low, MediumZones 3–9Type PerennialClimate Temperate
False Dragonhead, Obedient Plant (Physostegia Virginiana) — approximately 1 inch in length; it thrives in full to partial sun exposure and prefers, image 56

Culture

Sun
Full, Half, Shade
Water
Low, Medium
USDA zones
3–9

Shape & size

Classification

Type
Perennial
Family
Lamiaceae
Climate
Temperate

See full data, regional cultivation notes, and design tools. Build a client presentation around this plant.

Start your 14-day trial

Photos (117)

False Dragonhead, Obedient Plant (Physostegia Virginiana) — Provides vibrant vertical interest and attracts pollinators; the Obedient Plant can spread eagerly
False Dragonhead, Obedient Plant (Physostegia Virginiana) — perennial with pink blooms; approximately 1 inch in length, image 65
False Dragonhead, Obedient Plant (Physostegia Virginiana) — or Obedient Plant (Physostegia virginiana); thriving in zones 3-9, it prefers full sun, image 67
False Dragonhead, Obedient Plant (Physostegia Virginiana) — Despite its name, it can spread aggressively, so consider root barriers for containment; emanating
False Dragonhead, Obedient Plant (Physostegia Virginiana) — perennial with pink blooms
False Dragonhead, Obedient Plant (Physostegia Virginiana) — fondly referred to as the False Dragonhead or Obedient Plant; is a robust perennial, image 95
False Dragonhead, Obedient Plant (Physostegia Virginiana) — Its linear-lanceolate leaves stretch up to 5 inches long; although it can tolerate, image 97
False Dragonhead, Obedient Plant (Physostegia Virginiana) — Valued for its showy spires of pink to lavender tubular flowers, it blooms from late, image 69
False Dragonhead, Obedient Plant (Physostegia Virginiana) — creating an extended floral display from July to September; perennial for full or half or shade
False Dragonhead, Obedient Plant (Physostegia Virginiana) — supporting pollinators such as bees; creating an extended floral display from July to September
False Dragonhead, Obedient Plant (Physostegia Virginiana) — This North American native, growing robustly between 2 to 4 feet tall, boasts a spread of 1.5 to 3
False Dragonhead, Obedient Plant (Physostegia Virginiana) — with peak blooming in August; fondly referred to as the False Dragonhead or Obedient, image 58
False Dragonhead, Obedient Plant (Physostegia Virginiana) — with peak blooming in August
False Dragonhead, Obedient Plant (Physostegia Virginiana) — pink flowers in the garden; despite its name, it can spread aggressively, so consider root barriers
False Dragonhead, Obedient Plant (Physostegia Virginiana) — emanating from square stems typical of the mint family; or Obedient Plant (Physostegia, image 54
False Dragonhead, Obedient Plant (Physostegia Virginiana) — the Obedient Plant can spread eagerly via rhizomes
False Dragonhead, Obedient Plant (Physostegia Virginiana) — pink flowers in the garden
False Dragonhead, Obedient Plant (Physostegia Virginiana) — Its linear-lanceolate leaves stretch up to 5 inches long; although it can tolerate, image 53
False Dragonhead, Obedient Plant (Physostegia Virginiana) — supporting pollinators such as bees
False Dragonhead, Obedient Plant (Physostegia Virginiana) — or Obedient Plant (Physostegia virginiana); thriving in zones 3-9, it prefers full sun to partial
False Dragonhead, Obedient Plant (Physostegia Virginiana) — although it can tolerate periods of drought once established; perennial with pink blooms
False Dragonhead, Obedient Plant (Physostegia Virginiana) — Its linear-lanceolate leaves stretch up to 5 inches long
False Dragonhead, Obedient Plant (Physostegia Virginiana) — When integrating it into a garden theme; pink flowers in the garden, image 63
False Dragonhead, Obedient Plant (Physostegia Virginiana) — approximately 1 inch in length
Photographs by 12 contributors

Related plants