Nature Profile
Plants
Physostegia virginiana (obedient plant)
Physostegia virginiana
Physostegia virginiana is a robust perennial wildflower with bold lance shaped leaves. In late summer and early fall, foliage is topped by lavender, pinkish or white spikey inflorescences. The individual florets are tubular and similar to snapdragons. Prefers moist, acidic, well-drained soils in full sun. Stems tend to flop in rich soils, too much shade or hot summer temperatures. The common name “obedient plant” was bestowed because individual florets stay in place (at least temporarily) after being repositioned.
[Photo: Physostegia virginiana (21023314461); Credit: robin_ottawa (I’m on the phone!) from Ottawa, Canada, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons]
