Skip to main content

Showy False Dragonhead

Physostegia pulchella

Last reviewed: October 2026

Showy False Dragonhead (Physostegia pulchella)
Photo: Michelle W. （鍾偉瑋） / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0)

Toxicity unknown

Showy False Dragonhead (Physostegia pulchella) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.

Light

part sun

Water

medium

Size

24"–36" H × 6"–12" W

Bloom

Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug

Native to

AL, CT, FL, IA and 24 more states

Pollinators

bees, nectar insects

Before you buy

Your city may pay you to plant this

Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 460 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.

Find rebates in your area

Picture natives in your own yard

Upload a photo of your yard and Patch Vision shows a rendering of it planted with natives for your region, like Showy False Dragonhead.

Try it with your yardDownload on the App StoreGet it on Google Play

Browse plants for this ecoregion

Texas Blackland PrairiesEast Central Texas PlainsWestern Gulf Coastal Plain

Showy False Dragonhead produces tall spikes of tubular pink to purple flowers from spring through summer. This native perennial forms neat clumps with an upright growth habit and provides months of continuous color in the landscape.

Get an email before your first frost

We'll email you a week before frost can first reach your ZIP. You also get a printable fall checklist with your dates right away.

You'll also get our weekly yard notes. Unsubscribe anytime.

In an HOA neighborhood

Showy False Dragonhead is an HOA-friendly choice. Maintenance level: low. Tidiness: 4 out of 5.

Works well in: front yard, foundation, street edge, mid zone.

Wildlife value

The tubular flowers attract bees and other nectar-feeding insects throughout its extended bloom period. The long flowering season makes it a reliable nectar source for pollinators from spring through late summer.

Common questions

How much sun does Showy False Dragonhead need?
Showy False Dragonhead grows best in part sun conditions.
When does Showy False Dragonhead bloom?
Showy False Dragonhead blooms in March, April, May, June, July, and August.
Where is Showy False Dragonhead native?
Showy False Dragonhead (Physostegia pulchella) is native to AL, CT, FL, IA and 24 more states, per the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew).
What pollinators does Showy False Dragonhead attract?
Showy False Dragonhead draws bees and nectar insects.
Is Showy False Dragonhead HOA-friendly?
Showy False Dragonhead is generally an HOA-friendly choice in the right placement, with low maintenance.

Native range data from the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew). Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.

If something looks wrong

Common plant problems, and what to check first

These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.

See all plant problem guides

Ready to grow Showy False Dragonhead? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.

Add this plant to your garden
iPhone appAndroid app