Obedient Plant (Physostegia virginiana ) | Perennials | Plants

Obedient Plant

Physostegia virginiana

Common Name: Obedient Plant
Genus: Physostegia
Species: virginiana

Category: Perennials
Growth Rate: Average
Features: Long flowering period

Hardiness: Hardy	Height: 1.00 m (100 cm)
Sun/Shade: Full sun	Spread: 0.50 m (50 cm)

Foliage Type: Deciduous	Flower Colour: Purple, Pink, White
Foliage Colour: Green	Flowering Period: July to September

Soil Type: Normal/Loam or Clay/Heavy
Soil Moisture: Moist, but well drained

This spreading, sometimes invasive perennial spreads by rhizomes. A member of the nettle family, Physostegia virginiana has square stems. The common name comes about from the way that the individual flowers of this plant will stay in a new position if moved horizontally around the flower stalk. This is because each flower has a hinge attaching it to the flower stalk. Physostegia virginiana has mid-green leaves. The flowers are usually produced from mid summer for a long period, into early autumn. Flower colour varies from dark purple to bright pink and occasionally white.

The Latin name Physostegia is a reference to the bladder like shape of the calyx.