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Pruning guide · Perennial
Obedient plant: when and how to prune
Physostegia virginiana
Obedient plant is best pruned in March.
| Pruning months | March |
|---|---|
| Flowering | July–September |
| Good for bees, butterflies and birds | Yes, for bees and butterflies |
| Native to Belgium | No, planted |
Obedient plant: when to prune it?
Leave the stems standing over winter and cut them down in March, before the new shoots appear.
What else to prune in those months? March
Obedient plant: how to prune it?
- Cut the old stems down to just above the ground.
- During flowering, cut faded spikes back to above a few leaves for later flowers on the side shoots.
- Cut flowers for the vase when the lowest flowers on the spike are open.
How much to cut, and how often?
- One pruning period a year: March.
What does it mean for wildlife?
- Obedient plant flowers in July–September, when it attracts bees and butterflies.
- If you only cut back in March, the old stems stand through the winter: insects overwinter in them and birds eat the seeds.
Nearby: related pruning guides
Plant profile: Obedient plant · Pruning calendar and basic rules
This guide is compiled from the Bladwijzer plant profile and pruning calendar.