Description
Obedient Plant (Physostegia virginiana) is a large 3′ – 4′ native perennial that grows naturally on river banks, in wet thickets, and in prairies. It is adaptable and tolerates both drought and poor drainage, making it an excellent choice for a rain garden. The 1″ tubular white-pink flowers grow on a long, showy, dense raceme. Blooms first appear at the bottom of the raceme and work their way towards the top throughout the season. The individual flowers can be pushed to the side where they will stay in that position, hence name “Obedient Plant.” It blooms from June to September, and is an important late-season nectar source for bees, hummingbirds, butterflies, and other pollinators. Obedient plant is a host to Henry’s Elfin Butterfly (shown above). We recommend dividing this plant yearly to keep it maintained.
