The Obedient Plant is a Prolific Perennial

The Obedient Plant- Physostegia virginiana– is a member of the family Lamiaceae, which contains many fragrant herbs like, mint, rosemary, sage, oregano, thyme, lavender, basil, and others. Virginiana has no special fragrance, however, and is more reminiscent of a Snapdragon. It is sometimes called the Obedience Plant or False Dragonhead due to its resemblance to the Snapdragon. It is known by its common name because it can be bent in any direction and tends to stay put.

What are the Characteristics of the Obedient Plant

The Obedient Plant is a perennial wildflower now cultivated for its heartiness, low maintenance, and its ability to attract butterflies and hummingbirds. It is well-suited for zones 3 to 10. Diseases and pests are rare and it is reasonably drought resistant even though it likes soil that is kept evenly moist.

The Obedient Plant sprouts quickly from rhizomes in the spring and grows on a stalk more or less straight up forming blooms which open in late summer and last for about six weeks. The flowers cover the upper one-third to one-half of the stalk. If blooming is heavy, the stalks can tip over. Planting them close together helps them support each other. Different varieties of the Obedient Plant are available in white, pink, and purple hues.

The Obedient Plant is an Easy Perennial to Grow

The plants prefer full or partial sun and moist to average conditions. They grow best in rich, loose soil, but can adapt to the presence of clay. Drought may result in a yellowing and loss of the lower leaves. Generally, the foliage has fewer problems than typical mints. The Obedient Plant is easy to grow if watered regularly and not allowed to dry out. No special feeding requirements are needed. Too much water can result in aggressive growth and plenty of extra plants.

They are an attractive addition to container assortments to add height and color contrast. They reach full bloom and maximum beauty as the summer temperatures begin to moderate. In some zones they will be in bloom at the same time as early mums and compliment the taller yellow varieties. When blooming is over they will grow until frost at which time they should be cut even with the ground and let to tend to themselves over the winter.

In warmer climates the plants will begin to grow from newly developed rhizomes in sometimes alarming numbers. They can be dug up, easily separated into individual plants, and thusly thinned providing lots of plants for the neighbors or the compost pile.

Use the Obedient Plant for Creative Gardening

The Obedient Plant grows very well when planted close together in rows of three or four plants. They are excellent choices for accent plants to plant in small groups around a large garden. As cut flowers they can be bunched in a tall container for an evening, but the flowers tend to begin to fall off soon after cutting, so they are not suitable for mixing with cut flowers that last for several days.

The Obedient Plant is a hearty perennial that requires little special care and is not subject to damage by insects or disease. It blooms late in the summer when many other flowers have finished. It is adaptable to a wide range of soil conditions, but prefers a moist environment. The Obedient Plant is appropriate for many garden applications and even containers. It multiplies rapidly from rhizomes.

Source:

Stokes, Donald W. The Wildflower Book: East of the Rockies, London: Little, Brown and Company, 1992