Free Shipping on Online Seeds & Seed Mix Orders Over $100!

Generic selectors
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Post Type Selectors
Search in posts
Search in pages
Obedient Plant blooming in greenhouse
Obedient Plant growing in prairie
Obedient Plant Physostegia virginiana
Obedient Plant blooming in greenhouse
Obedient Plant growing in prairie
Obedient Plant Physostegia virginiana
Physostegia virginiana

Obedient Plant

Seeds

Packet Out of Stock

Plants

50 Plug Tray Out of Stock

Description

Obedient Plant (Physostegia virginiana), also known as Dragonhead, is a showy native perennial in the mint family, named for its quirky trait—individual flower stems can be gently moved and will stay in place. Its tall spikes bloom with tubular flowers in shades of white, soft pink, and vibrant purple, offering a late-season nectar source for bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.

Reaching around 4 feet tall, Obedient Plant blooms from August through November, providing color and pollinator support well into fall. It thrives in full to partial sun and moist soils, but is adaptable to both drought and poor drainage. Native to the central and eastern U.S. and parts of Canada, it’s easy to grow and low-maintenance—but, like many mint family members, it can spread aggressively if left unchecked.

Perfect for prairie borders, pollinator gardens, and wetter planting areas.

Seed Details

Weight 0.025 lbs
Dimensions 3.5 × 0.1 × 2.25 in

Range Map

Obedient Plant native range

Details

Seeds/Packet200
Germination Code60 Day Cold Moist Stratification
SociabilityRhizomes, Self-Seeding
Sun RequirementsFull Sun, Partial Sun
Soil MoistureMesic, Wet-Mesic, Wet
BenefitsDeer Resistant, Drought Resistant, Pollinators
Height3-4'
Hardiness Zone3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Bloom ColorPink
Bloom PeriodJuly, August, September
Spacing1-2'

Seeds & Seed Mixes:

Seeds and seed mixes ship nationwide, year-round, typically within 3–5 business days. If you would like to postpone a seed mix shipment until fall, please note this at checkout.

Live Plants:

Live plants are available year-round while inventory lasts and ship to all states except California, Arizona, Oregon, Washington, Nevada, Alaska, and Hawaii. After your order is placed, we’ll contact you to coordinate a spring shipping window, as many plants are overwintered and ship once dormancy breaks.

Estimated shipping for 2026 plant orders begins in mid-April, weather permitting.

If you’re looking to secure plants in advance or need larger quantities for a project, we offer contract growing options. Contact us to discuss your needs and request a quote. Additional species not listed online may also be available through contract grow.

Live Stakes:

Live stakes are available by request only and must be ordered by submitting a contact form. Ordering is open seasonally from November 1 through February 28. A minimum of 100 stakes per order is required, with at least 25 stakes per species.

Live stakes ship only to the following states: Missouri, Minnesota, South Dakota, North Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, and Iowa.

PLS stands for Pure Live Seed, an industry-standard measure of seed quality. It reflects the portion of seed in a batch that is viable and capable of germinating.

What this means for you: when you purchase 1 lb. of PLS seed, the physical weight of the seed you receive will be slightly more than 1 lb. That’s because we account for non-viable seed and natural inert material upfront, so you receive a full pound of live, plantable seed.

Many companies sell bulk seed by total weight, which can include filler and non-viable seed. By pricing based on PLS, we make sure you’re getting exactly what you paid for—high-quality native seed with more predictable, successful germination.

Want to dive deeper? Check out our in-depth article on what PLS is and why it matters.