NC Native Plant Society:
Plant Details
Physostegia virginiana
Obedient-plant, Northern Obedient-plant
Scientific Name: |
Physostegia virginiana |
---|---|
Genus: |
Physostegia |
Species Epithet: |
virginiana |
Common Name: |
Obedient-plant, Northern Obedient-plant |
Plant Type |
Herb/Wildflower |
Life Cycle |
Perennial |
Plant Family |
Lamiaceae (Mint Family) |
Native/Alien: |
NC Native |
Invasive Status: |
(*Key) |
Size: |
1-3 ft. |
Bloom Color(s): |
Pink, Purple, Violet |
Light: |
Sun - 6 or more hours of sun per day, Part Shade - 2 to 6 hours of sun per day |
Soil Moisture: |
Moist |
Bloom Time: |
July, August, September, October |
Growing Area: |
Mountains, Piedmont, Coastal Plain |
Habitat Description: |
This species prefers somewhat high pH soils, and full to partial sunlight. Also, it grows best in damp (but not wet) sites, though it is not really a wetland species. It favors wet meadows, barrens and glades, seepages in open woods, damp thickets, among other sites. It does grow in open upland forests as long as the soil is quite high in pH. Uncommon to infrequent in the NC mountains. Rare in the northwestern Piedmont, but slightly more frequent farther east and south, though still mostly uncommon in the central and eastern Piedmont, and very rare in the northeastern portions. Presumed introduced or escaped in the Coastal Plain. |
Leaf Arrangement: |
Opposite |
Leaf Retention: |
Deciduous |
Leaf Type: |
Leaves veined, not needle-like or scale-like |
Leaf Form: |
Simple |
Life Cycle: |
Perennial |
Wildlife Value: |
Important for Wildlife |
Landscape Value: |
Highly Recommended and Available |
State Rank: |
S3: Vulnerable, S4: Apparently secure (*Key) |
Global Rank: |
G5 - Secure (*Key) |
Notes: |
Weakley (2018) lists two subspecies, as opposed to varieties, for this species in NC. The form ssp. praemorsa is the primary one, if not the only native one, in the state; on the other hand, ssp. virginiana is considered by him as native in NC but rare throughout. |
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