General Plant Information (Edit)
Plant Habit: Herb/Forb
Sun Requirements: Full Sun to Partial Shade
Water Preferences: Wet Mesic
Soil pH Preferences: Neutral (6.6 – 7.3)
Slightly alkaline (7.4 – 7.8)
Moderately alkaline (7.9 – 8.4)
Minimum cold hardiness: Zone 3 -40 °C (-40 °F) to -37.2 °C (-35)
Maximum recommended zone: Zone 9a
Plant Height: 2.5 feet
Plant Spread: 2.5 feet
Leaves: Deciduous
Fruit: Dehiscent
Fruiting Time: Late summer or early fall
Flowers: Showy
Flower Color: White
Bloom Size: Under 1"
Flower Time: Summer
Late summer or early fall
Miscellaneous: Goes Dormant

Image
Common names
  • Obedient Plant
  • False Dragonhead

Photo Gallery
Uploaded by Hamwild
Location: Colleyville Texas Zone 8a
Date: 2014-06-19
I moved Miss Manners to a sunnier spot and she is blooming much b
Uploaded by Hamwild
Location: Kalama, Wa.
  • Uploaded by Joy
Uploaded by Hamwild
Uploaded by Hamwild
Location: all photos from my gardens
Date: 2018-06-19
Location: Schwartz Greenhouse, Romulus, MI
Date: 2009-05-08
Location: KALAMA WA
  • Uploaded by Joy
Location: Lucketts, Loudoun County, Virginia
Date: 2013-07-12
Location: KALAMA WA
  • Uploaded by Joy

Photo Courtesy of Lazy S'S Farm Nursery.
  • Uploaded by Joy

Photo Courtesy of Lazy S'S Farm Nursery.
  • Uploaded by Joy
Location: Schwartz Greenhouse, Romulus, MI
Date: 2009-05-08
Comments:
  • Posted by JuniperAnn (Coastal TX (Sunset 28/31) - Zone 9a) on Apr 26, 2019 5:32 PM concerning plant:
    This is a well-behaved variety of phyostegia virginiana ssp. virginiana, a North American native member of the mint family that's usually pretty aggressive. The white flowers are pretty, but subtle enough that I'd recommend a mass of at least 5 plants for it to stand out.

    The Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center says it will grow in sun, part shade, and full shade.

    That is true, but you won't get any flowers in full shade. My 3 plants survived in full shade for a year, then thrived in part shade for two years. Then all 3 disappeared during an unremarkable winter while everything around them stayed healthy. I haven't seen anything about a short lifespan for this plant, and it has a distinctive enough look that I don't think I would've accidentally weeded it out. On the other hand, it died shortly after my 2nd child was born, so for all I know maybe I ate it while hallucinating from sleep deprivation. *shrug*

    It stayed under 18" for me, even in full shade, and never needed staking. I would recommend it as an attractive edging plant if I knew that the short lifespan wasn't a regular feature.

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