Simple landscape ideas

Obedient Plant

Physostegia

A genus of 12 species of plants that are part of the larger Lamiaceae family.

Physostegia angustifolia
A large perennial, forming a clump up to 6 x 3+ feet, that is native to wet soil in the central U.S. from Texas to Illinois.
The pinkish-purple flowers are borne in clusters, up to 6 inches in length, during spring and summer.
Hardy zones 3 to 8.

Physostegia correllii ( Corrells obedient Plant )
A perennial, reaching up to 7 feet in height with thick stems up to 1 inch thick. It is native to southeastern Texas, western Louisiana and northern Mexico ( Coahuila, Nuevo Leon and Sonoro states ). It is endangered with extinction in the wild and should be used more as a landscape plant to ensure its continuing survival. Fast growing, it can form large rhizomatous colonies.
The ovate leaves are deep green.
The showy, purplish-pink flowers, up to 1 inch across, are borne mid summer to early autumn.
Hardy zones 6 to 9 in full sun to partial shade on moist soil. It is flood tolerant.

Physostegia virginiana
The wild form is an invasive spreader, forming upright clumps up to 6 x 6 feet, that is native to North America from Alberta to New Brunswick; south to Louisiana to Florida.
The toothed, lance-shaped leaves, up to 5 or rarely 8 inches in length, are glossy mid- green.
The pink, tubular flowers, up to 1 inch across, are borne in terminal spikes from mid summer into mid-autumn. The flowers attract hummingbirds and are a great nectar source for butterflies.
The square stems are green.
Hardy zones 2 to 8 in full sun to partial shade on fertile moist soil.
Mulching improves vigor by preserving moisture and cooling soil.

* photo taken on Sep 2 2010 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Aug 25 2012 in Columbia, MD
* photo taken by Jennifer Anderson @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database


Bouquet Rose
Forms a clump up to 5 x 6 feet with pink flowers.

Eyeful Tower
Massive, reaching up to 7 feet in height, but does not run as much as the species.
The flowers are lavender-pink.

Gigantea
Reaches up to 7 feet with very glossy green foliage.

Miss Manners
Forms a moderate growing clump, up to 3 x 3 feet, bearing pure white flowers borne on terminal spiked from early summer into early autumn.
The foliage is luxuriant deep green.
It does not spread by rhizomes and is not invasive.

* photo taken on July 1 2011 in Columbia, MD



* photo taken on Aug 25 2011 @ Scott Arboretum, Swarthmore College, PA


Pink Bouquet
Reaches up to 4 feet with dense clusters of pink flowers.

Red Beauty
Vigorous growing, reaching up to 3 feet with reddish-pink flower spikes during summer.

Rosea
Reaches up to 3 feet with pink flower spikes during summer.

Rose Queen
Reaches up to 3.3 feet with intense pink flowers borne mid summer through early autumn.

Summer Snow
Reaches up to 3 feet in height with pure white flowers. It is slow spreading an not invasive.

Summer Spire
Flowers are lilac-purple.

Variegata
Reaches up to 4 x 3 feet with pink flowers and foliage that is heavily blotched creamy-white. Very beautiful and is not invasive.

Vivid
Forming a rapid growing, dense clump up to 3 x 6 feet with bright pink flowers borne terminal spikes during late summer.

* photos taken on Sep 14 2012 in Columbia, MD
* photos taken on Sep 18 2013 in Columbia, MD