Virginia False Dragonhead

Physostegia virginiana

Pollinator Value

🐛 Larval Host: Endothenia hebesana
S14 Tortricidae; host record for Physostegia virginiana

Proximity Score: 0
Native Status: ❌ Outaouais ✅ Ottawa ✅ QC ✅ ON
Closest Direction: Local
CEC Eco-Regions: 5 – Northern Forests, 5.2 – Mixed Wood Shield, 5.2.3 – Algonquin/Southern Laurentians
Rarity Notes: Globally secure (G5) with a national rank of N4 in Canada. Apparently Secure (S4) in Ontario; Not Ranked (SNR) in Quebec. Not listed under SARA or assessed by COSEWIC. In the Ottawa area, Brunton (2005) lists it as RS (Regionally Significant) with only one extant site at Stony Swamp CA, noting extirpation at Britannia CA.
S22 G5, N4, S4-ON, SNR-QC; S26 not SARA listed; S62 RS in Ottawa
Rarity Ranks: QC SNR – Not Ranked, ON S4 – Apparently Secure
Migration: Stable
Ecological Context: Physostegia virginiana occupies wet to moist habitats including riverbanks, floodplain forests, wet thickets, shores, and moist meadows. In the Ottawa region it is documented at Stony Swamp Conservation Area, historically at Britannia, and along the Airport Parkway, though native status at the latter site is questioned. It spreads vigorously by stolons and rhizomes, forming large patches in suitable habitat. Michigan Flora records it from swamps, shores, river floodplains, and wet thickets, often associated with Eutrochium maculatum, Iris versicolor, and Saururus cernuus.
S62 Ottawa sites; S7 Michigan habitats and associates; S4 habitat description

Roles: Fortress/Barrier, Insectary Plant, Pollinator Attractor
S73/S29/S72 Evidence: Fortress/Barrier: S61 keyword match: thorns? (supporting signal only)] | Insectary Plant: S64 NPPBI 'beneficial insects' flag] | Pollinator Attractor: S73 [HIGH]: S64 Xerces listed (source-classified)]

❌ Not Edible

Foraging Notes: No edible uses documented in ethnobotanical databases (Moerman NAEB) or phytochemical references (Duke). PFAF lists no edibility rating for this species.
S28 0 uses; S31 no data; S29 no edibility info