Physostegia virginiana
obedient plant
lamiaceaeTubular pink or white flowers; narrow
green leaves
2–4 ft. high; 3 ft. wide
Full sun–part shade
Blooms August–October
Zones 3–9
pruning Deadhead to a lateral flower
bud or leaf to improve the overall
appearance of the plant and possibly
to prolong bloom. Pinch or cut back
plants by half in the spring to prevent
flopping, particularly in rich moist
soils or shaded sites. Cut plants down
to new basal growth if they develop a
ratty appearance after flowering.
other maintenance Best growth
occurs in full sun, although plants may
still require staking. Obedient plant
prefers moist soil. This is a rather
high-maintenance plant, because it
spreads aggressively, requiringfrequent digging out of sections of the
plant to keep it in bounds. Division
every couple of years helps to maintain
a decent plant. It is best relegated to a
naturalized garden where a spreading
and flopping growth habit is more
acceptable.
related plantS Physostegia
virginiana ‘Crystal Peak White’ is a
dwarf form (to 18 in.) that is somewhat
less aggressive than the species; at the
other end of the spectrum, ‘Eyeful
Tower’ is a fun, but fairly aggressive,
novelty plant reaching 6–7 ft. ‘Rose
Queen’ is an upright, spreading cultivar
with pink flowers. ‘Miss Manners’
(white) is a well-behaved clumping
form that doesn’t roam, reseed, or need
staking; ‘Pink Manners’ is similar, but
in pale lilac-pink. ‘Variegata’ is a less
rambunctious form, and it also has
cream-edged foliage to offer. ‘Vivid’ is
more compact and upright than the
species, normally not requiring
pruning, yet it’s still a spreader.Physostegia virginiana
‘Rose Queen’