Physostegia virginiana (Obedient Plant): Minnesota Wildflowers

Physostegia virginiana (Obedient Plant)

Plant Info
Also known as:	False Dragonhead
Genus:	Physostegia
Family:	Lamiaceae (Mint)
Life cycle:	perennial
Origin:	native
Habitat:	part shade, sun; moist soil, along streams, wet fields
Bloom season:	August - October
Plant height:	1 to 4 feet
USDA PLANTS database:	Minnesota county distribution map
Spotted in Ramsey County at:	Long Lake Regional Park Rice Creek Trail Corridor

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Detailed Information

Flower:

A tall spike, up to 10 inches long, of 1-inch tubular flowers; color is mainly light purple, pinkish or white. The lower lip of each flower has 3 lobes; the middle is broadest and has dark purple spots on the inside. 4 purple-tipped stamens arc against the wide upper lip. The flowers bloom from the bottom of the spike up and one plant may have multiple spikes, though a single spike is common.

Leaves and stem:

Leaves are up to 5 inches long and 1½ inches wide, sharply toothed with pointed tips and no leaf stem. Like all members of the Mint family, attachment is opposite and the stem is square. There are nodes around the main stem where the leaves attach. Leaves and stem are both hairless.

Notes:

Obedient Plant apparently gets its common name because the individual flowers can be repositioned and will continue to grow that way.

Where to buy native seed and plants

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Map of native plant purveyors in the upper midwest

More photos

Photos taken at Coon Rapids Dam Regional Park, Coon Rapids, MN, August 2007

Comments

Have you seen this plant in Minnesota, or have any other comments about it?

Posted by: Jake in Austin, Minnesota - Mower Coun
on: 2009-08-28 23:32:50

I was riding my bike and while around Todd Park, I saw this beautiful flower. I stopped and made sure it wasn't a wild musk orchid. It was still beautiful. I quickly came home and googled it. This is the plant!

Posted by: Jen, near Cloquet, MN
on: 2010-03-23 18:19:49

I have seen Physostegia virginiana in two seperate places on the Cloquet River near Cloquet, MN.

Posted by: Norah in Minnetonka
on: 2011-06-04 14:09:19

This was one of many flowers planted in my yard before I bought my house, and I thought it was lovely. BUT, I've found it to be aggressive and abundant. It's taken over a large portion of the garden and, compared to the phlox and similar-colored bloomers, has not quite enough payoff (either in leaf attractiveness or flower) to have to deal with the spread. And, unlike Monarda or phlox, it is difficult to remove due to the rhizomes (note the "mint" family connection.)

Posted by: carolyn
on: 2011-09-19 13:00:14

Last year I dug this plant up from a friend's garden, planted it in my yard and forgot about it......until, this week, when this very tall and hardy plant bloomed so beautifully. I had no idea, nor did my friend of it's name until I brought a clipping to our local nursery. I Love it! Can I buy some more, or just hope that it will multiply for me?