Physostegia virginiana Red Beauty - Obedient Plant

Physostegia virginiana 'Red Beauty' is undoubtedly one of the most richly coloured varieties of this species.  This robust perennial tends to spread in fertile and damp soils, but it is easily forgiven as its stunning pink-purple magenta flowering in the height of summer creates a small spectacle in the garden. This perennial raises is covered with mischievous flowers that permanently change orientation when touched. Physostegia are beautiful plants for riverbanks and wetlands, which also provide excellent long-lasting cut flowers.

Physostegia virginiana belongs to the family of Lamiaceae (Scrofulariaceae), it is related to snapdragons and foxgloves, for example. It is native to the eastern and central North America, where it is found along rivers, in wet meadows or in damp thickets. 'Red Beauty' is a vigorous cultivar with deep pink-carmine flowers. It is a rhizomatous herbaceous perennial plant with rapid growth. It forms a large upright clump of unbranched stems, about 80 cm (32in) in all directions, starting from spring. The above-ground vegetation, deciduous, disappears in winter. The branched flower stalks covered with small magenta tubular flowers embedded in purple calyxes develop in July-August at the top of the stems. 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 maintain their position relative to the central axis of the inflorescence. They are arranged in 4 rows. The foliage consists of lanceolate leaves, narrow, 10 cm (4in) long, with toothed edges, of a bright green colour. The plant has a semi-suckering stump, with large white roots that resemble bindweed roots and allow it to spread fairly quickly if the conditions suit it.

Easy to grow in moist soil and in the sun, Physostegia virginiana is traditionally used to border a body of water or to make bouquets, as its flowers are very beautiful and long-lasting in a floral arrangement. By the water's edge, it will accompany other plants of wet riverbanks such as river anemones, hastate verbenas, 'Houttuynia Chameleon' or narrow-leaved cottongrass. It will also find its place in flower beds with soil that remains damp in summer, accompanied by summer asters (Aster novae angliae), crocosmias or montbretias, or pastel-coloured groundcover roses.