Obedient Plant (False Dragonhead)

Physostegia virginiana

Beautiful when in bloom, the oft- branched stems of this plant produce spikes of closely-packed speckled pink (rarely white) snapdragon-like flowers, each flower about 1 inch or more in length; the spikes, which bloom from the bottom up, may be one foot or more in length. A member of the mint family, it has the characteristic square stem of that family. Leaves are closely attached to the stem, long (up to 6 inches low on the plant) and sharply pointed at both ends; they have fine, almost needle-like (but soft) teeth on the leaf edges.

1-5 feet, sun - partial sun. Thrives in damp locations.  

Summer (June-September).

The speckled, three-pronged lower lip of the tubular flower is also typical of many members of the mint family.

23 July 2020.

Obedient Plant or False Dragonhead, 1 August 2020.