Hoary Skullcap
(Scutellaria incana)
Hoary Skullcap (Scutellaria incana)
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Elias
CC BY 4.0
Image By:
Elias
Recorded By:
Copyright:
CC BY 4.0
Copyright Notice:
Photo by: Elias | License Type: CC BY 4.0 | License URL: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ | Rights Holder: Elias | Publisher: iNaturalist | Date Created: 2021-09-20T17:44:43-07:00 |
Estimated Native Range
Summary
Scutellaria incana, commonly known as Hoary Skullcap, is a deciduous perennial herb native to open woodlands, meadowlands, and forest edges in the Cenral and Eastern United States. It typically grows to a height of 2-3 feet (0.6-0.9 meters) and a width of 2 feet (0.6 meters). The plant has a clumping form with branching stems and features heart-shaped, toothed leaves with a downy texture, giving it a hoary appearance. From midsummer to early fall, it produces dense racemes of tubular blue to violet flowers, which are highly attractive to bees and butterflies.
Hoary Skullcap is valued for its long blooming period and the striking blue-purple flowers that add a splash of color to garden borders, native plant gardens, and informal wildflower meadows. It is relatively low maintenance, tolerating a range of soil conditions, though it prefers well-drained soils. This plant is also used in traditional medicine for its purported calming effects. In cultivation, it is best positioned in full sun to part shade and requires low to medium amounts of water. While generally pest-free, it can occasionally suffer from rust or leaf spot diseases.CC BY-SA 4.0
Hoary Skullcap is valued for its long blooming period and the striking blue-purple flowers that add a splash of color to garden borders, native plant gardens, and informal wildflower meadows. It is relatively low maintenance, tolerating a range of soil conditions, though it prefers well-drained soils. This plant is also used in traditional medicine for its purported calming effects. In cultivation, it is best positioned in full sun to part shade and requires low to medium amounts of water. While generally pest-free, it can occasionally suffer from rust or leaf spot diseases.CC BY-SA 4.0
Plant Description
- Plant Type: Herb
- Height: 2-3 feet
- Width: 1.5-2 feet
- Growth Rate: Moderate
- Flower Color: Purple
- Flowering Season: Summer, Fall
- Leaf Retention: Deciduous
Growth Requirements
- Sun: Full Sun, Part Shade
- Water: Low, Medium
- Drainage: Medium
Common Uses
Bee Garden, Bird Garden, Butterfly Garden, Deer Resistant, Drought Tolerant, Hummingbird Garden, Low Maintenance, Rabbit Resistant, Showy Flowers, Street Planting
Natural Habitat
Open woodlands, meadowlands, and forest edges
Other Names
Common Names: Downy Skullcap
Scientific Names: , Scutellaria incana,
GBIF Accepted Name: Scutellaria incana Spreng.