Physostegia virginiana Miss Manners - Obedient Plant

Physostegia virginiana 'Miss Manners' is a variety which is compact, floriferous and non-invasive, that produces long spikes of pure white flowers in the height of summer. This robust perennial forms an attractive clump in the damp to wet soils it thrives in, and will be covered in snowy flowers that permanently change orientation when touched. Physostegia are very beautiful plants for riverbanks, but also for always damp flower beds, which also provide excellent cut flowers, which are very long-lasting in vases. 

Physostegia virginiana belongs to the scrophulariaceae family, it is related to snapdragons and foxgloves for example. It is native to the eastern and central parts of North America, where it can be found along rivers, in wet meadows or even in wet thickets. 'Miss Manners', selected in the United States, is a cultivar that has attracted attention for its compact habit, long and well-branched floral stems, as well as for its non-spreading temperament: this variety indeed stays in its place and does not colonise the soil. It is a fast-growing herbaceous perennial. It forms, from spring onwards, an erect clump of stems reaching approximately 55-60 cm (22-24in) in height and 40 cm (16in) in width. The aerial, deciduous vegetation disappears in winter. The branched floral spikes, in the shape of a candelabra, are covered in small white tubular flowers, which bloom over a long period from July-August to September. The flowers are attached to the axis by a small organ that acts as a joint, allowing them to orient themselves in any direction, and to maintain their position in relation to the central axis of the inflorescence. They are arranged in 4 rows. The foliage is composed of lanceolate leaves, narrow, 10 cm (4in) long, with serrated edges,which is shiny and a medium green colour.

Easy to grow in always moist to wet soil and in full sun, Physostegia virginiana is traditionally used as a border plant for water features or for making bouquets, as its flowers are very beautiful and is long-lasting in a vase. By the water's edge, it will accompany other plants for wet riverbanks such as river anemone, hastate verbenas, 'Houttuynia Chameleon' or narrow-leaved cotton grass. It will also find its place in flower beds where the soil does not dry out in summer, alongside summer asters (Aster novae angliae), the soft inflorescences of 'Phantom' hydrangea or pastel-coloured groundcover roses.