Growing obedient plants in the garden adds a bright, spiky flower to the late summer and fall flower bed. Physostegia virginiana, commonly called the obedient plant, produces spikes of attractive flowers, but beware of your interpretation of obedient. Growing obedient plants got the common name because stems can be bent to stay in place, not for the plant’s habit in the garden.
I. Appearance and Characteristics
Physostegia virginiana, the obedient plant, obedience or false dragonhead, is a species of flowering plant in the mint family, Lamiaceae. It is native to North America, where it is distributed from eastern Canada to northern Mexico. Physostegia are known commonly as obedient plants because a flower pushed to one side will often stay in that position. The name “false dragonhead” refers to the dragonheads of the related Dracocephalum, a genus to which the plant once belonged.
It is a rhizomatous herbaceous perennial producing clumps of stiff, squared stems 2–4 ft (0.61–1.22 m) tall. The leaves are lanceolate and toothed. The inflorescence is a long, dense raceme containing many tubular pink flowers which resemble snapdragons. The open fruit is shaped like a vase and contains four triangular, black seeds.
It is considered a good plant for adding late-season flowers to a garden. Fertile soils produce robust growth and wide spreading, and the plant may require staking. When it grows tall it has a “tendency toward floppiness” that can be controlled with pruning. It can be aggressive and dominate a landscape.
II. How to Grow and Care
Sunlight
Obedient plant performs best in full sun, which produces fuller growth and helps prevent the loss of lower leaves on the stems. Full sun is also best for flower production and provides the most amount of blossoms. While an obedient plant tolerates part shade, it will be looser in habit and more prone to flopping.
Temperature and Humidity
Obedient plants grow in a wide climate range, from subzero winters in Zone 3 to hot summers in Zone 9. They thrive in temperatures between 60 and 90 degrees F and tolerate hot, dry weather well.
Watering
Obedient plants should be watered once or twice a week once established.
Soil
Obedient plants are easily established and very drought tolerant, forgiving plants. Although they prefer moist, slightly acidic soil (5.5 to 6.3 pH), they’ll grow just fine in average to poor soil, and spreading will be less of a problem.
Fertilizing
Work a 1-inch layer of compost into the soil around the base of the plant. Any additional fertilization is not recommended and is even detrimental because excess nutrients lead to floppy growth.
Planting Instructions
The best planting time is between late summer to mid-fall, which gives the plant time to establish a good root system in cooler weather before it enters dormancy. Dig a hole about twice the diameter of the nursery container and about the same depth. The roots of obedient plant are delicate so be extra gentle when handling them. Place the plant in the hole and fill in original soil to the top of the root ball. Gently tamp down the soil and water it well. Keep the soil evenly moist in the absence of rain until the first strong frosts.
Space plants 3 feet apart, except for compact cultivars which can be spaced about 2 feet apart.
Pruning
To encourage more branching, a more compact growth, and more blooms, prune stems back to 3 to 4 inches in the early summer.
Deadheading spent blossoms before they set seed is not necessary for aesthetic reasons but to help prevent any potential spread of volunteer seedlings.
In the late fall, after the foliage has died back, cut the flower stalk back to the ground but leave the foliage on the plant as protective mulch. Remove it in the spring to make room for new growth
Propagation
Obedient plant is commonly propagated from seed. If you let it go into seed, you might find seedlings in your garden. If they are from a cultivar, they might not have the same desirable traits as the parents.
The seeds require 60 days of cold stratification to germinate. You can either start them in pots outdoors in mid-winter or stratify the seeds in the refrigerator at 33 to 38 degrees F first and then plant them in pots filled with potting mix. Barely cover the seeds with soil, as they need light to germinate, and keep the soil evenly moist all through the growing season. Delay planting them until the weather cools down in the late summer or early fall, at which point the seedlings should have developed into strong little plants.
Potting and Repotting
Because of their tendency to spread, planting obedient plant in a container is a good way to contain its growth. Select a container at least 18 inches in diameter and with large drainage holes. Fill it with a combination of well-draining potting mix and compost. Keep in mind that container plants require more frequent watering and fertilization than plants in the landscape.
Although obedient plant is very winter-hardy, containers expose their roots to the cold, which can damage the roots and even lead to plant death. To winterize the pots, insulate them by sinking the container in the ground or by placing in it in a second, larger pot to create a planting silo.
Repot your obedient plant to a larger pot with fresh potting mix when the root system has reached the sides of the container, or the roots grow out of the drainage holes.
Pests and Diseases
Obedient plant is generally free of serious pests and diseases. It might attract aphids. In damp, weedy conditions, blackspot fungus might occur. The plant is deer-resistant.
III. Obedient Plant Varieties
- ‘Variegata’ Obedient Plant
This variegated selection has green leaves edged in cream that take on a purple coloring once nights begin to cool in the fall. The blooms are bright pink.
- ‘Vivid’ Obedient Plant
This compact cultivar grows 1 to 2 feet tall, with strong spikes of vivid purplish pink tubular flowers from midsummer to fall. The square stems carry 5-inch toothed leaves.
- ‘Crystal Peak’ Obedient Plant
The outstanding feature of this cultivar is its snow-white bloom. The flowers are long-lasting and form an attractive contrast against the deep green foliage. This is a moderately spreading variety that grows only 1 foot tall.
- ‘Miss Manners’ Obedient Plant
This variety with white flowers originated as a natural seedling of Physostegia virginiana. It has a compact growth habit and does not spread as widely as others, reaching a little over 2 feet in width.
IV. Uses and Benefits
Obedient plant is an herbaceous perennial that is commonly found in gardens. It is prized for its eye-catching, showy flowers. Its upright habit makes it good for borders whilst its clumping nature makes it suitable for mass planting. Obedient plant is appropriate for wildflower and pollinator gardens.
Obedient plant combines well with the blue flowers of the late summer garden, such as caryopteris, Russian sage, and catmint. The spiky flowers are also a nice contract with asters, sedum, and coneflowers. Because of its obedient habit, false dragonhead is a fun plant to feature in children’s gardens for the kids to play with. Flowers of the obedient plant make long-lasting cut flowers.
Find Where to Buy the Best Obedient Plant (Physostegia virginiana)
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