Online Virtual Flora of Wisconsin - Physostegia virginiana

Physostegia virginiana

Family: Lamiaceae

false dragonhead, obedient plant

Steve C. Garske

Merel R. Black

University of Wisconsin - Madison (WIS-VP)

Open Interactive Map

Etymology: Physostegia: Greek for "bladder covering" referring to somewhat inflated appearance of flower
Plants: erect, perennial, 2'-5' tall forb, hairless; stems square, often branched toward the top; long horizontal, clone forming rhizomes
Leaves: opposite, mostly stalkless, usually toothed
Flowers: pink, 5-parted, 2/3"-1 1/3" long; inflorescence a 2"-6" tall, terminal cluster (raceme) with each stalked flower from the axil of a small leaf-like bract; flower drawing

blooms Aug.-Oct.
Fruits: 1-seeded, smooth nutlet
Habitat: full to partial sun; dry to moderate moisture; woods, prairies; in sandy, loamy soil
Conservation Status: Native

A striking plant of lowland forests, riverbanks and sloughs, lakeshores, pond margins, wet prairies, sedge meadows, marshes, ditches, dune swales, sandbars and mudflats, shrub-carr, alder thickets, wet fields, and sometimes vernal pools in upland woods; also collected in wet areas along railroad tracks, on wet rock ledges along rivers, and at the bases of wet cliffs. This is a variable species in a complicated genus and our taxon has gone by a handful of names. Often cultivated, some of our records may be escapes. Cultivated individuals are often hybrids of different subspecies and will show characteristics not seen in native populations. Found throughout the state but rare or absent in the far north.