Western False Dragonhead

Physostegia parviflora

Native to:
Canada, United States
Western False Dragonhead

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Taxonomy

Division:
Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
Family:
Lamiaceae
Genus:
Physostegia
Species:
Physostegia parviflora
USDA Symbol:
PHPA10

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:
Perennial
Growth Habit:
Forb/herb
Height:
100 cm
Light Requirements:
Full Sun
Drought Tolerance:
Low
Bloom Months:
jun,jul,aug,sep
Bloom Colors:
pink, lavender, purple

Wildlife Benefits

Bees:
★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
Butterflies & Moths:
★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)

Host Plant for Caterpillars

verbena bud moth (Endothenia hebesana)

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:
bees, butterflies, hummingbirds
Deer Resistant:
Yes
Fire Ecology:
Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
Fire Notes:
Resprouts from rhizomes following fire; typical of wet prairie and streambank habitats where periodic fire occurs.

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:
moist, rich, well-drained loamy soil
pH:
5.5 - 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)
Drainage:
good drainage required
Moisture:
consistently moist

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:
Cold/moist stratification required — 30–60 days
Germination Time:
14–30 days
Notes:
Seeds germinate best with cold stratification. Surface sow as light may aid germination.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI