Physostegia virginiana (L.) Benth.
Obedient plant, false dragonhead
Obedient plant is a North American native. They are so named because a flower pushed to one side will often stay in that position, at least for awhile. Another common name, false dragonhead, derives from the resemblance to “real” dragonheads (Dracocephalum)—a genus to which obedient plants were once thought to belong. Several cultivars have been created.
Plants: Produces multiple stems 2–4′ (60–121 cm) tall, unbranched except near the flowering tops. Stems are square in cross-section, as with most members of the mint family. They spread via their root systems, and can be quite aggressive if there is ample moisture.
Leaves: Leaves are lance-shaped (lanceolate), 5 ⨉ 1½″ (12 ⨉ 3.8 cm), hairless, attached directly to the branch (sessile), with sharp-pointed teeth. Leaves are dark green above, lighter below.
Flowers: Flowers are tubular, somewhat snapdragon-like in appearance, pink to lavendar or white, opposite, appearing in dense terminal spikes up to 10″ (25 cm) long. There are two opposite-facing columns of densely packed flowers. Each flower is about 1″ (2.5 cm) long. Viewed from the front, each flower has five lobes, two above and three below. Flowers appear from late summer to early fall.
Fruits: Seeds are weakly three-sided dull brown nutlets ⅛″ (3.2 mm) in size.
Habitats: In the wild, obedient plant is found on or in swamps, stream banks, ditches, damp meadows and prairies, moist open woodlands, bogs, and pine savannas.
Online References:
9/14/2010 · Garden in the Woods, Framingham, Massachusetts · ≈ 6 × 4½″ (15 × 11 cm) 
9/27/2013 · Gordon and Kathy’s, Prospect, Maine · ≈ 7 × 6″ (17 × 14 cm) 
9/27/2013 · Gordon and Kathy’s, Prospect, Maine · ≈ 6 × 4″ (15 × 10 cm) 
9/27/2013 · Gordon and Kathy’s, Prospect, Maine · ≈ 9 × 6″ (23 × 16 cm) 
9/27/2013 · Gordon and Kathy’s, Prospect, Maine · ≈ 7 × 9″ (16 × 21 cm) 
9/27/2013 · Gordon and Kathy’s, Prospect, Maine · ≈ 8 × 6″ (20 × 14 cm) 
| Kingdom | Plantae | Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae (from Stearn's Botanical Latin) |
| Subkingdom | Tracheobionta | Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients |
| Division | Magnoliophyta | Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms |
| Class | Magnoliopsida | Dicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves |
| Subclass | Asteridae | A large class that encompasses asters |
| Order | Lamiales | Aromatic herbs and shrubs, including lavender, lilac, olive, jasmine, ash, teak, snapdragon, sesame, psyllium, garden sage, mint, basil, and rosemary |
| Family | Lamiaceae | Mint family |
| Genus | Physostegia | New Latin, from phys-, relating to the body; plus Greek stegē, “roof;” plus New Latin -ia; akin to Greek stegein to cover, shelter |
| Species | virginiana | From or referring to Virginia |
Physostegia virginiana description by Thomas H. Kent, not updated.
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