obedient plant

Physostegia virginiana

The obedient plant is a pretty flower that can change its shape! It has tall spikes with pink or white blooms that look like little bells. This flower loves to grow in sunny places and can be found in gardens and wild areas.

Habitat: Wetlands

Appearance

The obedient plant has tall spikes adorned with numerous tubular, two-lipped flowers, typically in shades of pink, purple, or white. Its lance-shaped leaves have serrated edges and grow on upright, square stems. The flowers are arranged closely along the upper part of the stem.

KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderLamialesFamilyLamiaceaeGenusPhysostegia

obedient plant

Interesting facts

Did you know its flowers are sometimes called 'dragonhead' because of their unique shape?

Even though it loves moist soil, this tough plant can also thrive in drier garden spots!

Some people believe the roots were traditionally used by Native Americans for teas!

The plant's square stems are a secret clue that it belongs to the big mint family!

Special abilities

The obedient plant has flowers that, when gently pushed sideways, will stay in their new position, helping guide pollinators!

This plant produces abundant nectar and bright, showy flowers that effectively attract a variety of bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.

Obedient plants can spread effectively through underground stems called rhizomes, helping them form dense colonies over time.

Measurements & details

Height: 60-120 cm
Spread: 30-90 cm
Flower Size: 1-3 cm
Bloom Season: Late summer to fall
Edible: No
Toxicity: None
Lifecycle: Perennial
Pollination Method: Insect

Ecological connections

pollinates

Common Eastern Bumblebee

Bombus impatiens

Visits flowers for nectar and pollen.

pollinates

Monarch Butterfly

Danaus plexippus

Feeds on nectar, aiding in pollination.

pollinates

Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Archilochus colubris

Sips nectar from the tubular flowers.

Traits

Bell-Shaped Flower

Bell-shaped flowers possess petals fused or arranged to form a cup-like or campanulate structure resembling a bell.

Deciduous

Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons.

Flowering

Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.

Summer Blooming

Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished.

Fragrant Flower

Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense.

Pollinator Magnet

Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.

Wetland

This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs.