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Physostegia (Obedient Plant)
This small genus of square-stemmed North American perennials is related to the better known genus, Salvia. We are pleased to present some of the lesser known but better garden plants in this unusual genera. |
Physostegia correllii (Correll's Obedient Plant)
Sun Zone: 6-9, guessing 84" tall Origin: USA
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This endangered native is found only in a small area in southeast TX and adjacent LA. I will admit it's hard to image how an obedient plant could become endangered, but this is evidently the case. This giant TX species forms large colonies by way of a short, thick rhizome. The crown gives rise to massive 7' tall, 1" thick stems, topped in early July with 12-way branched flower clusters. Each flower is a mauvy pink (RHS 77B), highlighted by dark purple speckles...quite a sight! Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #06580
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Physostegia virginiana 'Eyeful Tower' (Giant Obedient Plant)
Sun to Part SunZone: 3-8 80" tall Origin: USA
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I nearly fell over backwards when I first saw this giant specimen growing in NY's Cornell Plantation gardens. The next day, I visited with John Filkins, who had found the plant in an upstate NY garden, and Ellen Hornig, who shared a start of this amazing plant. The foliage on this 6-7' tall giant is wonderfully glossy green, and the stalks are topped with large clusters of pink, snapdragon-like flowers in very late summer. Although it still spreads like a bad rumor, the spreading is not in relation to its huge size and is, in fact, less invasive than the regular species. If you like big plants in your garden and have a moist spot to plant, put one in the ground, toss on a few scoops of manure, and soon, you can even sell your old stepladder. Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #04720
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Physostegia virginiana 'Miss Manners' PP 12,637 (Well-Behaved Obedient Plant)
Sun to Part SunZone: 4-8 30" tall Origin: USA
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After 12 years of trialing by US plantsman Darrell Probst, this unique selection of the US swamp native is finally available to gardeners. Unlike other so-called obedient plants, P. 'Miss Manners' does not aggressively run around like other physostegias...or past presidents. Emerging from a dormant crown in spring, a cluster of green stems shoots upward to 30", each clothed by 3" long, narrow, waxy, dark green leaves. The sturdy clumps (unlike P. 'Spring Snow') are topped all summer with pure white, snapdragon-like flowers, which can be twisted around the stem and will remain where you put them...hence, the common name! Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #03172
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Pilosella
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Pilosella officinarum (Mouse Ear Hawkweed)
Part Sun to Light ShadeZone: 7-10, at least 2" tall Origin: Europe, Asia
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(aka: Hieracium pilosella) This superb, surface-spreading groundcover has long been one of our favorites. The felty, silver-grey foliage makes small rosettes that spread by above-ground stolons...slowly for us, although some references indicate reports to the contrary. In early summer, the mats are topped with delightful, 1" light yellow flowers on 8" tall stalks. We use this in the woodland garden to provide dramatic accents around the base of other plants...not bothered by heat and humidity! Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #02311
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Pinellia (Green Dragon)
These arisaema and amorphophallus relatives are probably the easiest to grow of the related genera, as well as the most hardy. These aroids are prized both for their attractive foliage, as well as their unique, sexually explicit flowers. While there is a weedy member of the family, P. ternata, and to a lesser extent, P. pedatisecta, the remaining members make great additions to the woodland garden. |
Pinellia cordata (Miniature Green Dragon)
Light Shade to ShadeZone: 5-7, at least 6" tall Origin: China alternate image
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This delightful little aroid is a real charmer for the woodland rock garden or trough container. Held atop shiny black stems are rubbery, velvet, dark green, arrowhead-shaped leaves, each prominently highlighted by a wide silver stripe that follows the veins. In late summer, the flowering peduncle (stalk) arises from the ground to stand just above the 6" tall foliage. The miniature Jack-in-the-pulpit-like flower boasts a long tongue (spadix) that curls just above the foliage. P. cordata does produce tiny bulbils on the leaves but is not weedy like other members of the genus, particularly P. ternata and P. pedatisecta. Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #02792
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Pinellia peltata (Peltate Green Dragon)
Part Sun to Light ShadeZone: 6-7, at least 8" tall Origin: China alternate image
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This rarely seen pinellia, from the eastern China provinces of Fujian and Zhejiang, is one of the more unusual members of an already obscure genera. The glossy, peltate green leaves (like a heart-shaped plate balanced on a stick) produce a 1' wide clump. Starting in late spring, the clumps are adorned with lime-green spathe and spadix inflorescences...resembling an anorexic ET with a long, creamy yellow, whip-like tongue. In hot dry climates, we find these go summer dormant. In regions with cool night temperatures, they will form stolons that dive and re-emerge from the soil like a sea serpent, each ending in a new bulb (tubercle) on the tip. He who dies with the most bizarre plants wins...score early and often! Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #05174
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Pinellia 'Polly Spout' (Polly Spout Pinellia)
Part Sun to Light ShadeZone: 5-9, possibly colder 24" tall Origin: Hybrid
We are very pleased to finally offer this highly coveted hybrid pinellia (P. tripartita 'Atropurpurea' x P. pedatisecta) that was discovered and introduced by We-Du founder Dick Weaver. The plant is an intermediate between the two parents with one additional trait...total sterility. We've been assured by medical professionals that this is not reversible, so don't fret about baby pinellias. The vigorous clumps produce both 2' tall, upright stalks of five-leaflet foliage alongside the equal-height stalks of spathe and spadix flowers from early April through September. Pinellia 'Polly Spout' is named for the small town of Polly Spout, NC, where We-Du was founded. Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #06780
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Pinellia tripartita 'Atropurpurea' (Purple Dragon)
Part Sun to Light ShadeZone: 5-9, possibly colder 12" tall Origin: Japan
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This strange aroid for equally strange gardeners has three-lobed glossy green leaves that reach 12" tall. In the spring, the spathes unfurl to reveal a lovely purple interior from which emerges a whip-like tongue. As the flowers mature, the stalks fall over, dumping a few seeds for future generations...but not becoming weedy like some of the other pinellia species. Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #00813
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Pinellia tripartita 'Dragon Tails' (Variegated Green Dragon)
Part Sun to Light ShadeZone: 5-9 10" tall Origin: Japan
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This collectors edition form of P. tripartita comes from Japan via collector Ozzie Johnson. Each of the light green tripartite leaves is variegated creamy yellow. Some leaves will be all yellow, some half and half, some streaky yellow and some all green. The unstable variegation pattern is what makes this a truly fascinating plant. The sexually explicit, pitcher-like flowers that are produced all summer can be equally as variegated. Any solid green shoots should be removed so as to not overpower the variegated divisions. Moist woodland soils are best. Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #05373
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Plantago
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Plantago cordata (Water Plantain)
Sun to Light ShadeZone: 5-8, at least 12" tall Origin: USA
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This unusual semi-aquatic native is found in woodland rocky stream beds and similar habitats, usually in alkaline soils. Surprisingly, it has been quite happy growing at the edge of our garden pool. Despite being native from Canada south, including a few disjunct populations in GA and FL, it is quite rare and has been proposed as a Federal Endangered species...at which point, we can no longer ship it. In form, it resembles a long-stalked skunk cabbage with cordate leaves on long petioles, forming an attractive, bold-textured, 18" wide clump, topped with 18" non-impressive flower spikes in June. This is really a cute plant, and one that will stump your gardening friends. In addition to being edible, it reportedly cures a wide range of ailments from snakebites to congested swellings and low scrofulous ulcers. Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #06747
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Podophyllum (Mayapple)
If you’ve only seen our native Podophyllum peltatum, you have missed some of the great joys of the genus podophyllum. In the great continental divorce about 250 million years ago, most of the really cool podophyllums were on the wrong side of the great crack and got stuck in China for these many years. When we started bringing them back, we only initially found P. emodi, which is the most difficult species to grow and certainly not a lover of hot climates. Despite being slow and difficult to propagate, many of the more growable species as well as amazing new hybrids are finally becoming available. In a slightly moist, organic soil, you’ll find these to be amazing woodland garden specimens. |
Podophyllum versipelle ssp. boreale (Chinese May Apple)
Light Shade to ShadeZone: 6-8 20" tall Origin: China
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(syn: Dysosma versipellis) A unique eye-catcher is the best way to describe this rare Chinese woodland gem (featured in the book, Rare and Precious Plants of China). Each thick, underground rhizome gives rise to a single, fleshy grey-green stalk with red speckles. Each stalk forks near the tip, ending in 2 large, tropical-looking, 1' wide, satiny green leaves...each with 7 prominent lobes. In spring, the clumps are topped with 1" long brilliant red flowers perched just under the top leaf. In extremely hot summers, the plant may experience a short summer dormancy period. Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #03009
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