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Key characteristics

Family: Lamiaceae
Height: 2 to 4 feet
Width: 1 to 2 feet
Flower color: Pale pink to light purple
Foliage color: Dark green
Bloom time: Mid-summer to fall
Light: Full sun to part shade
Water: Medium to moist soil
Maintenance: Low; deadhead to prolong blooming, cut back in late fall or early spring
Growing zone: USDA zones 3 to 8
Wildlife: Bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds

Perennials

Physostegia virginiana

Obedient Plant

Physostegia virginiana, commonly known as the obedient plant, is a perennial native to North America. It is renowned for its spiked clusters of tubular flowers that bloom from mid-summer to early fall, with the blooms typically appearing in shades of pink, to light purple. The flowers are arranged in tall, narrow clusters that add a vertical accent to gardens, making it a popular choice for borders or naturalized areas.

Light

Full sun to part shade

Water

Medium to moist soil

Bloom time

Mid-summer to fall

Find this plant

Works well in

Borders
Cottage Gardens
Pollinator Gardens
Hummingbird Gardens
Rain Gardens

Companion plants

Hellebores · Hardy geraniums · Hostas · Ferns · Astilbes · Foxgloves

Design tip

Late flowers extend the season, so set it behind or beside plants that finish in midsummer. Because it is easy about light, use it to carry a planting from a sunny end of the bed into the shadier side.

Printable plant sheet (PDF)