Physostegia virginiana
Common name: Obedient Plant
Obedient Plant is an upright prairie species that produces large, showy racemes of pink flowers at the tips of the plant. They bloom late summer to early fall and last about a month and a half. Bumblebees are the most frequent visitors, but they also attract butterflies and the occasional hummingbird. Do not be fooled by this plants' common name! It is quite aggressive in the landscape, spreading by both rhizomes and seed, so only use in areas with other vegetative competition or if you are looking to fill in some space. The common name "obedient plant" most likely refers to a strange characteristic of the flower buds- when pushed to one side or the other, they tend to stay pointing that direction.
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Plant Details
Plant type
Forbs
Soil type
Mesic (Not too Wet Not too Dry), Moist Mesic, Wet
Light exposure
Eastern Exposure / Morning Sun, Full Sun
Bloom period
Fall
Urban environment
Yards that Flood
Habitat
Floodplain, Moist Woods, Prairie Grasslands, Savannas, Wetlands
Growth form
Colonizing / Spreading, Rhizomatous/stoloniferous
Growth rate
Fast
Flower color
Pink
Fall color
Yellow
Size
- Mature height
- 3 Feet
- Mature width
- 2 Feet
- Max height
- 4 Feet
- Max width
- 4 Feet
Additional information
Pollinator hot spot