Plant Profile: Physostegia purpurea

The Eastern False Dragonhead is a perennial plant belonging to the mint family, indigenous to the southeastern United States. In North Carolina, it thrives in coastal plains and regions, particularly in wet savannas, ecotones between savannas and swamps, as well as in ditches near former pinelands, preferring moist, well-drained sandy soils that lack humus. This species does not tolerate salt.

Its striking purple flowers bloom from May to August, creating a vibrant display that attracts various pollinators, including hummingbirds. This plant is best suited for full sun exposure in bogs, swamps, or wet savannas located in coastal environments.