Taxon: Physostegia virginiana (L.) Benth.

Summary

Genus:

Physostegia

Family:

Lamiaceae (alt. Labiatae)

Subfamily:

Lamioideae

Tribe:

Synandreae

Nomen number:

316915

Place of publication:

Labiat. gen. spec. 504. 1834 (Edwards's Bot. Reg. 15: sub t. 1289. 1830, nom. inval.)

Verified:

04/27/1992 ARS Systematic Botanists.

Accessions:

16 (15 active, 3 available) in National Plant Germplasm System. (Map it)

Other conspecific taxa

Physostegia virginiana (L.) Benth. subsp. praemorsa (Shinners) P. D. Cantino (1 active accession[s])
Physostegia virginiana (L.) Benth. subsp. virginiana (0 active accession[s])

Autonyms (not in current use), synonyms and invalid designations

Basionym
Dracocephalum virginianum L.

No images

Conservation Status

Reference(s)

Aldén, B., S. Ryman, & M. Hjertson. 2012. Svensk Kulturväxtdatabas, SKUD (Swedish Cultivated and Utility Plants Database; online resource)
Allred, Kelly W. 2008. Flora Neomexicana I: The vascular plants of New Mexico, an annotated checklist to the names of vascular plants with synonymy and bibliography.
APHIS. Agricultural Risk Management System United States Department of Agriculture.
Browne, E. T. & R. Athey. 1992. Vascular plants of Kentucky: an annotated checklist
Cantino, P. D. 1982. A monograph of the genus Physostegia (Labiateae). Contr. Gray Herb. 211:85.
Chester, E. W. et al. 1993-1997. Atlas of Tennessee vascular plants.
Gleason, H. A. & A. Cronquist. 1991. Manual of vascular plants of northeastern United States and adjacent Canada, ed. 2
Groth, D. 2005. pers. comm. Note: re. Brazilian common names
Huxley, A., ed. 1992. The new Royal Horticultural Society dictionary of gardening
Liberty Hyde Bailey Hortorium. 1976. Hortus third. A concise dictionary of plants cultivated in the United States and Canada
McGregor, R. L. et al. (The Great Plains Flora Association). 1986. Flora of the Great Plains.
Ownbey, G. B. & T. Morley. 1991. Vascular plants of Minnesota: a checklist and atlas
Radford, A. E. et al. 1964. Manual of the vascular flora of the Carolinas. Note: = Dracocephalum virginianum L.
Scoggan, H. J. 1978-1979. The flora of Canada, 4 vol. Note: = Dracocephalum virginianum L.
Seymour, F. 1969. The flora of New England.
Smith, E. B. 1978. An atlas and annotated list of the vascular plants of Arkansas
Steyermark, J. A. 1977. Flora of Missouri.
Strausbaugh, T. D. & E. L. Core. 1978. Flora of West Virginia, ed. 2. Note: = Dracocephalum virginianum L.
University of Texas Herbarium. 2000-. The mints of Texas (on-line resource)
Wherry, E. T. et al. 1979. Atlas of the flora of Pennsylvania.
Wofford, B. E. Database of Tennessee vascular plants (on-line resource). Note: recognizes two subspp.

Common names

Language	Name	seq	Citation
English	false dragonhead	1	Steyermark, J. A. 1977. Flora of Missouri.
English	obedience	1	Liberty Hyde Bailey Hortorium. 1976. Hortus third. A concise dictionary of plants cultivated in the United States and Canada
English	obedient-plant	1	Steyermark, J. A. 1977. Flora of Missouri.
Portuguese (Brazil)	falsa-cabeça-de-dragão	2	Groth, D. 2005. pers. comm. Note: re. Brazilian common names
Swedish	drakmynta	2	Aldén, B., S. Ryman, & M. Hjertson. 2012. Svensk Kulturväxtdatabas, SKUD (Swedish Cultivated and Utility Plants Database; online resource)

Distribution

order_code	Status	Continent	Subcontinent	Country	State	Note	Reference
1	Native	Northern America	Eastern Canada	Canada	Ontario	s.	Scoggan, H. J. 1978-1979. The flora of Canada, 4 vol. Note: = Dracocephalum virginianum L.
1	Native	Northern America	Eastern Canada	Canada	Québec		Scoggan, H. J. 1978-1979. The flora of Canada, 4 vol. Note: = Dracocephalum virginianum L.
1	Native	Northern America	North-Central U.S.A.	United States	Illinois		Gleason, H. A. & A. Cronquist. 1991. Manual of vascular plants of northeastern United States and adjacent Canada, ed. 2
1	Native	Northern America	North-Central U.S.A.	United States	Iowa		Gleason, H. A. & A. Cronquist. 1991. Manual of vascular plants of northeastern United States and adjacent Canada, ed. 2
1	Native	Northern America	North-Central U.S.A.	United States	Kansas	n.e.	McGregor, R. L. et al. (The Great Plains Flora Association). 1986. Flora of the Great Plains.
1	Native	Northern America	North-Central U.S.A.	United States	Minnesota		Ownbey, G. B. & T. Morley. 1991. Vascular plants of Minnesota: a checklist and atlas
1	Native	Northern America	North-Central U.S.A.	United States	Missouri		Steyermark, J. A. 1977. Flora of Missouri.
1	Native	Northern America	North-Central U.S.A.	United States	Nebraska	e.	McGregor, R. L. et al. (The Great Plains Flora Association). 1986. Flora of the Great Plains.
1	Native	Northern America	North-Central U.S.A.	United States	North Dakota	e.	McGregor, R. L. et al. (The Great Plains Flora Association). 1986. Flora of the Great Plains.
1	Native	Northern America	North-Central U.S.A.	United States	Oklahoma	e.	McGregor, R. L. et al. (The Great Plains Flora Association). 1986. Flora of the Great Plains.
1	Native	Northern America	North-Central U.S.A.	United States	South Dakota	e.	McGregor, R. L. et al. (The Great Plains Flora Association). 1986. Flora of the Great Plains.
1	Native	Northern America	North-Central U.S.A.	United States	Wisconsin		Gleason, H. A. & A. Cronquist. 1991. Manual of vascular plants of northeastern United States and adjacent Canada, ed. 2
1	Native	Northern America	Northeastern U.S.A.	United States	Indiana		Gleason, H. A. & A. Cronquist. 1991. Manual of vascular plants of northeastern United States and adjacent Canada, ed. 2
1	Native	Northern America	Northeastern U.S.A.	United States	Maine		Gleason, H. A. & A. Cronquist. 1991. Manual of vascular plants of northeastern United States and adjacent Canada, ed. 2
1	Native	Northern America	Northeastern U.S.A.	United States	Michigan		Gleason, H. A. & A. Cronquist. 1991. Manual of vascular plants of northeastern United States and adjacent Canada, ed. 2
1	Native	Northern America	Northeastern U.S.A.	United States	New York		Gleason, H. A. & A. Cronquist. 1991. Manual of vascular plants of northeastern United States and adjacent Canada, ed. 2
1	Native	Northern America	Northeastern U.S.A.	United States	Ohio		Gleason, H. A. & A. Cronquist. 1991. Manual of vascular plants of northeastern United States and adjacent Canada, ed. 2
1	Native	Northern America	Northeastern U.S.A.	United States	Pennsylvania		Wherry, E. T. et al. 1979. Atlas of the flora of Pennsylvania.
1	Native	Northern America	Northeastern U.S.A.	United States	Vermont		Gleason, H. A. & A. Cronquist. 1991. Manual of vascular plants of northeastern United States and adjacent Canada, ed. 2
1	Native	Northern America	Northeastern U.S.A.	United States	West Virginia		Strausbaugh, T. D. & E. L. Core. 1978. Flora of West Virginia, ed. 2. Note: = Dracocephalum virginianum L.
1	Native	Northern America	Northern Mexico	Mexico	Coahuila de Zaragoza
1	Native	Northern America	South-Central U.S.A.	United States	New Mexico	s.e.	Allred, Kelly W. 2008. Flora Neomexicana I: The vascular plants of New Mexico, an annotated checklist to the names of vascular plants with synonymy and bibliography.
1	Native	Northern America	South-Central U.S.A.	United States	Texas		University of Texas Herbarium. 2000-. The mints of Texas (on-line resource)
1	Native	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	Alabama	n.	Radford, A. E. et al. 1964. Manual of the vascular flora of the Carolinas. Note: = Dracocephalum virginianum L.
1	Native	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	Arkansas		Smith, E. B. 1978. An atlas and annotated list of the vascular plants of Arkansas
1	Native	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	Florida		Gleason, H. A. & A. Cronquist. 1991. Manual of vascular plants of northeastern United States and adjacent Canada, ed. 2
1	Native	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	Georgia	n.	Gleason, H. A. & A. Cronquist. 1991. Manual of vascular plants of northeastern United States and adjacent Canada, ed. 2
1	Native	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	Kentucky		Browne, E. T. & R. Athey. 1992. Vascular plants of Kentucky: an annotated checklist
1	Native	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	Louisiana	s.w.	Radford, A. E. et al. 1964. Manual of the vascular flora of the Carolinas. Note: = Dracocephalum virginianum L.
1	Native	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	Maryland		Gleason, H. A. & A. Cronquist. 1991. Manual of vascular plants of northeastern United States and adjacent Canada, ed. 2
1	Native	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	Mississippi		Gleason, H. A. & A. Cronquist. 1991. Manual of vascular plants of northeastern United States and adjacent Canada, ed. 2
1	Native	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	North Carolina		Radford, A. E. et al. 1964. Manual of the vascular flora of the Carolinas. Note: = Dracocephalum virginianum L.
1	Native	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	South Carolina		Radford, A. E. et al. 1964. Manual of the vascular flora of the Carolinas. Note: = Dracocephalum virginianum L.
1	Native	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	Tennessee		Wofford, B. E. Database of Tennessee vascular plants (on-line resource). Note: recognizes two subspp.
1	Native	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	Virginia		Gleason, H. A. & A. Cronquist. 1991. Manual of vascular plants of northeastern United States and adjacent Canada, ed. 2
1	Native	Northern America	Western Canada	Canada	Manitoba	s.	Scoggan, H. J. 1978-1979. The flora of Canada, 4 vol. Note: = Dracocephalum virginianum L.
2	Cultivated					also cult.
4	Naturalized	Northern America		North America		e.	Gleason, H. A. & A. Cronquist. 1991. Manual of vascular plants of northeastern United States and adjacent Canada, ed. 2

Native
Northern America

EASTERN CANADA: Canada [Québec, Ontario (s.)]
WESTERN CANADA: Canada [Manitoba (s.)]
NORTHEASTERN U.S.A.: United States [Indiana, Maine, Michigan, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Vermont, West Virginia]
NORTH-CENTRAL U.S.A.: United States [Illinois, Iowa, Kansas (n.e.), Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska (e.), North Dakota (e.), Oklahoma (e.), South Dakota (e.), Wisconsin]
SOUTHEASTERN U.S.A.: United States [Alabama (n.), Arkansas, Florida, Georgia (n.), Kentucky, Louisiana (s.w.), Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia]
SOUTH-CENTRAL U.S.A.: United States [New Mexico (s.e.), Texas]
NORTHERN MEXICO: Mexico [Coahuila de Zaragoza]

Cultivated (also cult.)
Naturalized
Northern America

REGION: North America (e.)

Reference(s)

Allred, Kelly W. 2008. Flora Neomexicana I: The vascular plants of New Mexico, an annotated checklist to the names of vascular plants with synonymy and bibliography.
Browne, E. T. & R. Athey. 1992. Vascular plants of Kentucky: an annotated checklist
Gleason, H. A. & A. Cronquist. 1991. Manual of vascular plants of northeastern United States and adjacent Canada, ed. 2
McGregor, R. L. et al. (The Great Plains Flora Association). 1986. Flora of the Great Plains.
Ownbey, G. B. & T. Morley. 1991. Vascular plants of Minnesota: a checklist and atlas
Radford, A. E. et al. 1964. Manual of the vascular flora of the Carolinas. Note: = Dracocephalum virginianum L.
Scoggan, H. J. 1978-1979. The flora of Canada, 4 vol. Note: = Dracocephalum virginianum L.
Smith, E. B. 1978. An atlas and annotated list of the vascular plants of Arkansas
Steyermark, J. A. 1977. Flora of Missouri.
Strausbaugh, T. D. & E. L. Core. 1978. Flora of West Virginia, ed. 2. Note: = Dracocephalum virginianum L.
University of Texas Herbarium. 2000-. The mints of Texas (on-line resource)
Wherry, E. T. et al. 1979. Atlas of the flora of Pennsylvania.
Wofford, B. E. Database of Tennessee vascular plants (on-line resource). Note: recognizes two subspp.

Economic Uses

Usage	Type	Note	Reference
Environmental	ornamental		Huxley, A., ed. 1992. The new Royal Horticultural Society dictionary of gardening

Cite as: USDA, Agricultural Research Service, National Plant Germplasm System. 2026. Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN Taxonomy). National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland.
URL: https://npgstest.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxon/taxonomydetail?id=316915. Accessed 28 April 2026.