Physostegia virginiana Variegata - Obedient Plant

Physostegia virginiana Variegata in flower creates a small event in the garden. This robust, hardy perennial, with a wide clump, has grey-green foliage margined with white. In summer, it produces narrow, slightly stiff spikes covered with fresh pink, mischievous flowers. When touched, they permanently change their orientation around the axis of the inflorescence. These plants require a humus-rich and fertile soil, always moist, in the sun.

Physostegia virginiana belongs to the scrophulariaceae family, a native plant of the eastern and central North America. The 'Variegata' variety is a rhizomatous herbaceous plant, forming an erect clump of unbranched stems, about 60 cm (24in) in all directions, with rapid growth. The 10-12cm (4-5in) long spikes, covered with small fresh pink tubular flowers, develop in the heart of summer, at the top of the stems. The flowers are attached to the axis by a small organ that acts as a joint, allowing the flower to orient itself in any direction and maintain its position. They are arranged in 4 rows. The deciduous foliage is composed of lanceolate leaves, 10 cm (4in) long and narrow, with toothed edges, grey-green margined with white. The plant has a semi-suckering stump, with large white roots resembling those of bindweed, allowing it to slowly spread.

Easy to grow, Physostegia virginiana Variegata appreciates fresh, light soils and the sun. It is often used along the edge of a water feature or for making bouquets, as its flowers are very pretty and long-lasting in a floral arrangement. It will also find its place in perennial and shrub borders, alongside summer asters (Aster novae-angliae), the soft inflorescences of 'Phantom' hydrangea, or pastel-coloured landscape roses.