Pollinator plant

Obedient Plant

Physostegia virginiana

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Common names

20 names · 16 languages
EnglishYour language
+1 more nameShow fewer names
  • Virginia Lions-heart[3]
Other languages (15)
Dutch
  • Scharnierbloem
French
  • physostégie de Virginie[1][2]
Chinese (Simplified)
Chinese (Traditional)
Czech
  • řetězovka viržinská[2]
Estonian
  • virgiinia tonditupik[2]
Finnish
  • kellopeippi[2]
German
  • Virginische Gelenkblume[1][2]
Italian
Japanese
  • カクトラノオ[2]
  • ハナトラノオ[2]
Korean
  • 꽃범의꼬리[2]
Russian
  • Физостегия виргинская[2]
Slovak
  • fizostégia virgínska[2]
Swedish
Ukrainian
  • Фізостегія віргінська[2]
Sources & name notes (3)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Catalogue language labels are reviewed separately from botanical source records.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Physostegia virginiana — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy. This is a common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • false dragonhead — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 85313; Physostegia virginiana.
  • Virginische Gelenkblume — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 85313; Physostegia virginiana.
  • obedient plant — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 85313; Physostegia virginiana.
  • physostégie de Virginie — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 85313; Physostegia virginiana.
  • Pianta obbediente — results[0].names[16]; taxon id 85313; Physostegia virginiana.
[2] Physostegia virginiana — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • false dragonhead — results[24].names[2]; taxon id 85313; Physostegia virginiana.
  • Virginische Gelenkblume — results[24].names[9]; taxon id 85313; Physostegia virginiana.
  • obedient plant — results[24].names[1]; taxon id 85313; Physostegia virginiana.
  • physostégie de Virginie — results[24].names[4]; taxon id 85313; Physostegia virginiana.
  • Pianta obbediente — results[24].names[16]; taxon id 85313; Physostegia virginiana.
  • ハナトラノオ — results[24].names[5]; taxon id 85313; Physostegia virginiana.
  • Физостегия виргинская — results[24].names[6]; taxon id 85313; Physostegia virginiana.
  • kellopeippi — results[24].names[7]; taxon id 85313; Physostegia virginiana.
  • řetězovka viržinská — results[24].names[8]; taxon id 85313; Physostegia virginiana.
  • カクトラノオ — results[24].names[10]; taxon id 85313; Physostegia virginiana.
  • virgiinia tonditupik — results[24].names[11]; taxon id 85313; Physostegia virginiana.
  • 假龙头 — results[24].names[12]; taxon id 85313; Physostegia virginiana.
  • 꽃범의꼬리 — results[24].names[13]; taxon id 85313; Physostegia virginiana.
  • drakmynta — results[24].names[14]; taxon id 85313; Physostegia virginiana.
  • Фізостегія віргінська — results[24].names[15]; taxon id 85313; Physostegia virginiana.
  • fizostégia virgínska — results[24].names[17]; taxon id 85313; Physostegia virginiana.
  • 隨意草 — results[24].names[18]; taxon id 85313; Physostegia virginiana.
[3] Physostegia virginiana — Plant Toolbox common names ↗

NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox; English common names in a United States horticultural reference.

Source records
  • False Dragon Head — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(1); heading: Common Name(s):; Physostegia virginiana.
  • Obedient Plant — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(2); heading: Common Name(s):; Physostegia virginiana.
  • Virginia Lions-heart — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(3); heading: Common Name(s):; Physostegia virginiana.
Plant references

Source-backed information

Published observations for this plant. Each reference supports the information beside it.

Taxonomy
Physostegia virginiana is an accepted species in Catalogue of Life.

Taxonomic treatment in the August 2026 release; the catalogue record name is preserved.

Sources [1]
Botanical family
Lamiaceae

Family in the cited taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1]
Mature height
0.91–1.22 m

NC State Extension profile. Converted from the source range in feet and inches; mature size varies with growing conditions.

Sources [2]
Mature spread
0.61–0.91 m

NC State Extension profile. Converted from the source range in feet and inches; mature size varies with growing conditions.

Sources [2]
Plant habit
Clumping; Erect; Multi-stemmed

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Life cycle
Perennial

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Growth rate
Rapid

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
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 State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Moisture and drainage
Good Drainage; Moist; Occasionally Wet

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Soil texture
Clay; High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt); Sand

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Soil pH
Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)

NC State Extension profile. These source categories do not certify the catalogue’s numeric pH interval.

Sources [2]
Flowering season
Autumn; Summer

NC State Extension profile. Seasons reflect the source region and do not verify the catalogue’s exact flowering months.

Sources [2]
Reported wildlife attraction
Listed as attracting: bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, pollinators.

NC State Extension profile. Broad wildlife categories; this does not establish flower visits by a named bee species or quantify nectar and pollen.

Sources [2]
Native range
Canada to NE. Mexico.

Explicit native locality records in Kew WCVP v16; introduced and doubtful distributions excluded. Continent conversion follows the documented geographic mapping.

Sources [3]
Catalogue ratings

Who this plant supports

Honey bees

Low suitability
Nectar value Low
Pollen value Low
Plant profile

About this plant

False Dragonhead (Physostegia virginiana) is a herbaceous plant. It flowers from July to September.

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Catalogue of Life Physostegia virginiana — Catalogue of Life COL26.8

    COL26.8 (2026-08-20). Contributing checklist: Synonymic Checklists of the Vascular Plants of the World. This is taxonomic evidence, not an independent ecological study.

    Supports: TaxonomyBotanical family
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: NameUsage.tsv line 937275; ID 4HJJW; rank species; status accepted
    • Botanical family: NameUsage.tsv line 937275; ID 4HJJW; rank species; status accepted

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 4.0.

  2. NC State Extension Physostegia virginiana — Plant Toolbox

    NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. Growing conditions and seasons reflect its United States horticultural context.

    Supports: Mature heightMature spreadPlant habitLife cycleGrowth rateLightMoisture and drainageSoil textureSoil pHFlowering seasonReported wildlife attraction
    Relevant sections
    • Mature height: Dimensions / Height
    • Mature spread: Dimensions / Width
    • Plant habit: Habit/Form
    • Life cycle: Life Cycle
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Light: Light
    • Moisture and drainage: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Soil pH: Soil pH
    • Flowering season: Flower Bloom Time
    • Reported wildlife attraction: Attracts

    Source checked on .

  3. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew Physostegia virginiana — Kew WCVP native distribution

    Native distribution and taxonomic treatment from the official WCVP v16 export (4 June 2026). The link opens the corresponding POWO taxon. Source rows are retained in the native-range audit archive.

    Supports: Native range
    Relevant sections
    • Native range: WCVP v16; wcvp_names.csv lines 1078928; wcvp_distribution.csv native locality lines 206610, 206611, 206612, 206613, 206614, 206615, 206616, 206617, 206618, 206619, 206620, 206621, 206622, 206623, 206624, 206625, 206626, 206627, 206628, 206629, 206630, 206631, 206632, 206633, 206634, 206635, 206636, 206637, 206638, 206639, 206640, 206641, 206642, 206643, 206644, 206645, 206646, 206647, 206648, 206649, 206650, 206651, 206652, 206653, 206654, 206655

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.