Physostegia virginiana
| Physostegia virginiana | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Asterids |
| Order: | Lamiales |
| Family: | Lamiaceae |
| Genus: | Physostegia |
| Species: | P. virginiana |
| Binomial name | |
| Physostegia virginiana (L.) Benth. | |
Physostegia virginiana (obedient plant, obedience, or false dragonhead)[1] 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.[1] Physostegia are known commonly as obedient plants because a flower pushed to one side will often stay in that position.[2] The name false dragonhead refers to the dragonheads of the related Dracocephalum,[2] a genus to which the plant once belonged.[3]
Description
It is a rhizomatous perennial herb producing clumps of stiff, squared stems 2 to 4 feet tall. The leaves are lance-shaped and toothed. It has long, dense spikes of lipped, pinkish, "snapdragon-like" flowers in the summer.[2]
There are two recognized subspecies. The ssp. praemorsa is more widespread farther south, to Texas and New Mexico, and the ssp. virginiana extends farther north and west.[4]
Cultivation
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.[2]
Cultivars
Several cultivars have been bred for color variety.[5] Some (agm) have earned the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.
Cultivars include.
- 'Alba' - white flowers.
- 'Crown of Snow' - white flowers
- 'Pink Bouquet' - rose pink flowers
- 'Rosea' - pink flowers
- 'Rosy Spire' - lavender-pink flowers
- 'Summer Snow' (agm)[6] - pure white flowers
- 'Variegata' - pink flowers, green and white variegated leaves
- 'Vivid' (agm)[7] - bright pink flowers
References
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Wikispecies has information related to: Physostegia virginiana |
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Physostegia virginiana. |
- 1 2 Physostegia virginiana. Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN).
- 1 2 3 4 Physostegia virginiana. Missouri Botanical Garden.
- ↑ Physostegia virginiana. NatureServe. 2012.
- ↑ Physostegia virginiana. USDA PLANTS.
- ↑ Physostegia virginiana. Michigan State University Extension.
- ↑ "RHS Plant Selector - Physostegia virginiana 'Summer Snow'". Retrieved 26 May 2013.
- ↑ "RHS Plant Selector - Physostegia virginiana 'Vivid'". Retrieved 26 May 2013.
External links
- Physostegia virginiana (L.) Benth. ITIS.
- Physostegia virginiana. Floridata.