Obedient Plant

Physostegia virginiana

Back to plants
  • Common name
    Obedient Plant
  • Latin name
    Physostegia virginiana
  • Plant type
    perennial
  • Flower color
    Pink, lavender, or white
  • Bloom time
    Late summer through fall
  • Height
    24-48"
  • Chelsea chop
    Yes
  • Light requirements
    Full sun to part shade. It may get "floppy" and need staking or Chelsea Chop in too much shade.
  • Moisture
    Prefers medium to wet soil. It loves consistent moisture and is quite happy in clay or boggy areas, though it can tolerate average garden soil.
  • Native to Ontario
    Yes
  • Locally native
    Yes
  • Deer resistant
    Yes
  • Ecological benefit
    Hummingbird and pollinator magnet (especially long-tongued bees like bumblebees). Important source of nector for Monarch and Sulphur butterflies.
  • Notes
    Is wonderfully adaptable. It thrives beautifully in damp clay, wetlands, and wet meadows, yet it can tolerate short dry spells once established. a good rain garden plant. Spreads via underground rhizomes, making it excellent for stabilizing soil in wet ditches or along shorelines (though keep an eye on it in small gardens, as it can be aggressive!).
  • Picture
    Obedient Plant