The Obedient Plant (Physostegia virginiana) is a perennial known for its tall spikes of tubular flowers. These blossoms, typically in shades of pink, white, or lavender, appear from mid-summer into fall, offering a prolonged display of color. Its common name stems from the unique characteristic of its individual flowers, which, when repositioned, temporarily remain in their new orientation. Creating a garden with companion plants enhances visual appeal and contributes to a more balanced and thriving environment.
Understanding Obedient Plants and Companion Planting
Physostegia virginiana is a herbaceous perennial native to North America, from eastern Canada south to Florida and New Mexico. It features stiff, square stems reaching 3 to 4 feet tall, adorned with narrow, lance-shaped, toothed leaves. The flowers bloom progressively from the bottom to the top of each spike, attracting various pollinators like bees, hummingbirds, and butterflies.
A notable characteristic of the Obedient Plant is its tendency to spread aggressively through underground rhizomes and self-seeding. This vigorous growth can quickly overwhelm smaller garden spaces and outcompete less robust plants. Companion planting is a beneficial strategy to manage this spread, achieve aesthetic balance, and foster a more diverse garden ecosystem.
Key Considerations for Companion Selection
Choosing companion plants for Obedient Plants involves matching environmental and growth characteristics. Obedient Plants thrive in full sun but tolerate partial shade; companions should share this preference for at least six hours of direct sunlight daily.
Obedient Plants prefer moist, well-drained, slightly acidic to neutral soils but adapt to various soil types. Selecting plants with similar moisture needs simplifies watering. Consider the mature size and growth habit of companions to prevent them from being overshadowed; plants should complement the Obedient Plant’s height of 3-4 feet and spread of 2-3 feet or more.
Companions should be robust enough to hold their own against the Obedient Plant’s spreading rhizomes without becoming invasive. Also, consider bloom time and color for continuous visual interest, and contrasting textures or forms to add depth to the garden design.
Recommended Companion Plants
Several plants pair well with Obedient Plants. Tall, upright perennials like Liatris (Blazing Star) create a vertical contrast with the Obedient Plant’s spiky blooms. Liatris spicata prefers similar full sun and moist, well-drained soil, with purple flower spikes blooming from mid-summer into fall, overlapping with Obedient Plant’s flowering.
Echinacea purpurea, or Purple Coneflower, provides large, daisy-like blooms that contrast with the Obedient Plant’s tubular flowers. Coneflowers are adaptable to various soil conditions and prefer full sun. Their sturdy nature allows them to stand up to the vigor of Obedient Plants, and their long bloom time extends garden interest.
Amsonia tabernaemontana, Blue Star, offers fine-textured foliage and clusters of blue, star-shaped flowers in late spring to early summer, providing color and texture contrast. Rudbeckia subtomentosa, Sweet Coneflower, produces yellow, black-eyed daisy flowers. Its late summer to fall bloom time aligns well with the Obedient Plant, sharing similar sun and soil preferences.
Grasses like Schizachyrium scoparium (Little Bluestem) or Panicum virgatum (Switchgrass) are effective companions. Their fine textures and upright forms provide a soft backdrop and visual separation. These native grasses offer seasonal interest with changing colors and adapt to a range of conditions, thriving in similar environments.
Designing a Harmonious Garden with Companions
Arranging Obedient Plants and their companions thoughtfully enhances the garden’s aesthetic and functionality. When considering placement and spacing, allow enough room for the Obedient Plant’s potential spread, typically spacing plants about 3 feet apart. If spread is a significant concern, planting Obedient Plants within a bottomless container sunk into the ground can restrict their rhizomatous growth.
Layering plants creates visual depth and interest. Place taller Obedient Plants towards the back of a border or in the center of an island bed. Position shorter companions in front, gradually decreasing in height to the bed’s edge. This tiered arrangement allows all plants to be seen and prevents smaller specimens from being overshadowed.
Massing, or planting groups of the same companion plant, creates a cohesive look and amplifies their impact. Individual specimens can serve as accents. Achieving visual balance involves distributing plant masses, colors, and textures evenly throughout the design. An asymmetrical balance, using varying plant sizes and numbers, creates a more natural garden feel.
Maintaining Your Obedient Plant Companion Garden
Ongoing care ensures the health and vibrancy of your Obedient Plant companion garden. Watering should be consistent, especially during dry spells, to keep the soil moist but not waterlogged. Obedient Plants prefer consistent moisture when established, though they are quite drought-tolerant once their root systems develop.
Managing the Obedient Plant’s spread is a regular maintenance task. Its shallow root system makes it easy to pull out unwanted shoots or remove aggressive rhizomes with a garden fork. Dividing clumps every few years, ideally in late winter or early spring before new growth emerges, rejuvenates plants and controls their spread.
Deadheading spent flower spikes, removing faded blooms before they set seed, encourages a second flush of flowers and prevents unwanted self-seeding. Pruning stems back to 3 to 4 inches in early summer promotes bushier growth and more blooms. Fertilizing is generally not necessary, as Obedient Plants tolerate average to poor soils; excessive nutrients can encourage vigorous, floppy growth. Adding a light layer of compost once a year in spring provides sufficient nutrients.