What is the obedient plant?

By Chelsie Vandaveer

May 29, 2003

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The obedient plant (Physostegia virginiana (Linnaeus) Bentham) is in the Lamiaceae, the mint family, and has square stems and opposite leaves typical of mints. Obedient plants are generally found in moist to wet habitats and are native to eastern North America from New Brunswick to Minnesota and south to Missouri and South Carolina. It has escaped from cultivation and naturalized in Florida and other southern states.

Pink Dragonflower Sometimes called False Dragonhead or Obedient Plant because the flowers can be moved to different positions and remain that way and will continue to grow. Physostegia virginiana Zone 3 to 9

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The flowers are tubular-campanulate and closely arranged along the raceme at the top of the plant. The wild plants are showy with rose-purple flowers. In their native range, the plants may grow to four feet. Gardeners have developed a number of varieties with colors ranging from white to deep rose. There is even a dwarf variety (only 18 inches tall) with pale purple flowers named for J.R.R. Tolkien's queen of the elves, Galadriel.

The flowers of the obedient plant have an unusual trait. When moved, most flowers spring back to their original position if the pedicel (flower stem) is undamaged. But the obedient plant's flowers hold the new position. Wind will cause the flowers on the raceme to face the same direction and a curious child loves having flowers that 'obey' and remain where they were put.

The Institute for Systematic Botany, University of South Florida, has photographs of the obedient plant taken by Virginia Ducey and Rufino Osorio. To view the photographs, click on the link:

http://www.plantatlas.usf.edu/main.asp?plantID=383

Then click on the tab labeled Images. Click on the thumbnails to enlarge the images.

Note: In Osorio's photograph, the raceme to the right has flowers moved out of their normal position.

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Pink Dragonflower, False Dragonhead, Obedient Plant

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Deep pink, snapdragon-like trumpets decorate 18-36" spikes. Pink Dragonflower will brighten the landscape from late summer into fall. Great in any garden, showy in the border, pretty in bouquets. Watch for the butterflies! Plant 12-18" apart.

Shipped in 3" pot.

Physostegia virginiana

Hardiness Zone: 3 - 9 (-30 degrees F)

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Unique Characteristics: Somewhat slender perennial with erect stems featuring floral spikes loaded with small snapdragon like blooms. Nice addition to cut flower arrangements. Sometimes called False Dragonhead or Obedient Plant because the flowers can be moved to different positions and remain that way and will continue to grow.

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White Dragonflower, False Dragonhead, Obedient Plant

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Narrow leaves and graceful stems set off unusual snapdragon-like blooms late summer to fall. This easy care, Virginia native grows 18-36" tall, 12-18" wide. White Dragonflowers have an unique cut flower.

#1 Field-Grown Plants.

Physostegia virginiana 'Miss Manners'

Hardiness Zone: 3 - 9 (-30 degrees F)

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Unique Characteristics: Unlike other Physostegias that tend to spread too rapidly, Miss Manner does not run. This variety forms clumps and is therefore perfect for the border and smaller gardens where it's "good manners" can be appreciated and the long display of flowers on well branched stems enjoyed. It also makes a good cut flower. It's strong upright lines provide an important vertical element in the garden. Very hardy and of easy care. This variety with its neat compact habit, is a pleasure to grow and is admired for its many week of beautiful flowers

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Salvia Plumosa

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Enjoy summer-long beauty year after year with this vibrant member of the mint family. Heat and drought-resistant hybrid blooms profusely for months with plump spikes of violet double blooms.

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S. nemorosa 'Plumosa'

Zone 3 to 9

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Hardy Snapdragon

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Charming, creamy-yellow “dragon” flowers appear on 20-24” stems all summer long and return year after year. Long-lasting bloom spikes are ideal for cutting.

Plant 15-18” apart. Perfect for borders, pots or the top of a retain wall, where stems can spill over the sides.

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Verbascum Mix

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A mix of airy white, pink, red or purple flower clusters sparkle above dark green stems. Delightful when scattered into mixed borders.

Easy and free-flowering, this mix perpetuates itself by self-seeding. Verbascum Mix blooms from late spring until frost, growing 24-30" tall and spreading 12-15" wide. Plant in average, well-drained soil.

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Verbascum phoiniceum mix

Hardiness Zone: 4 - 8 (-30 degrees F)

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Unique Characteristics: Colorful racemes of flowers dotted and speckled through a border add bright glimpses of the many hues this mix contains. It has a light airy quality to it that is perfect to intervene amongst some of the heavier varieties that can become oppressive without these light touches. Easy and free flowering, a short lived perennial that will perpetuate itself by self sown seed.

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