Obedient-plant

Physostegia virginiana

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Not native

Not native to Florida. How scores work Is it native here?

Profile 82%

Height: 3–4 feet
Spread: 2–3 feet
Light: Full sun, Partial shade
Soil moisture: Usually moist

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Physostegia virginiana — flower photograph — no rights reserved · CC0 · Original photograph

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Sun: Full sun. Soil: Dry to moist. Flowers: Yellow or white.
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Sun: Full sun. Soil: Usually moist. Flowers: Yellow or orange.
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At a glance

Life cycle: Perennial
Bloom: August to September

JFMAMJJASOND

Not yet recorded · Leaves

Recorded in 24 Florida counties.

Ecological relationships

Who uses this plant?

What these records mean

1CaterpillarsGenus host records with ranges including FL

Genus host records with ranges including FL · Physostegia

Endothenia hebesanaVerbena Bud Moth

Shropshire & Tallamy 2025, Lepidoptera of North America north of Mexico, ZooKeys 1261 (ODbL)

—BeesSoutheastern regional records

—Specialist beesPollen specialists

—BirdsRecorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim

Adult butterflies / moths 1

Anosia plexippus

Flower visits · Carlinville, Illinois, USA

No records yet · Ants · Beetles · Flies · Other wasps · Other insects

Growing and identification

Plant details

Family: Lamiaceae
Hardiness: Zones 2a–9b
Soil pH: Neutral to alkaline
Flower color: Pink, purple or white

What its natural habitat tells you

Safety has not been reviewed for this plant; check toxicity and thorns before planting.

Growing sources and scope

Bloom · “August to September” · Prairie Moon 2026 Cultural Guide · Nursery cultural guide; height in flower; moisture categories retained as printed
Flower color · “Pink, purple or white” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox (ranked first; Prairie Moon 2026 Cultural Guide differs)
Hardiness · “Zones 2a–9b” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Height · “3–4 feet” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox (ranked first; Minnesota Wildflowers, Prairie Moon 2026 Cultural Guide differ)
Life cycle · “Perennial” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Light · “Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day); Partial shade (direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox (ranked first; Tennessee Smart Yards, Virginia DCR Piedmont, Prairie Moon 2026 Cultural Guide differ)
Soil · “Moist; Occasionally wet” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox (ranked first; Tennessee Smart Yards, Virginia DCR Piedmont, Prairie Moon 2026 Cultural Guide differ)
Soil pH · “Neutral to alkaline” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Spread · “2–3 feet” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox

Also known as

Dracocephalum virginianum; Obedient Plant; dragonhead

Conservation status

Florida rank	SNR
Global rank	G5
FL status	Not verified
Federal status	Not verified

Conservation source Global and federal source