Pink False Dragonhead Flower Photo Print

Physostegia virginiana (Obedient Plant or False Dragonhead) is an herbaceous perennial plant. Obedient Plant can grow up to 1.2m (4 feet) tall. The flowers are on swivels that can be bent right or left on the stem, giving rise to the common name. The plants bloom in late July to October. Plants spread by way of rhizomes forming large spreading colonies, especially in moisture retentive soils. The flowers are light purple-pink but white flowering plants are not uncommon. It is native to most of the United States, except for the Pacific Coast states. There are two recognised subspecies: Physostegia virginiana ssp. praemorsa (Shinners) Cantino and Physostegia virginiana ssp. virginiana (L.) Benth. Photo by Dr. Thomas G. Barnes, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.