Downy Skullcap, Scutellaria incana
The longer I backyard, the extra I need to develop perennials that bloom for so long as potential, and that ask for as little as potential in return. Inside cause. Whereas Agastache has lengthy been on the high of my checklist of summer-to-fall-flowering, pollinator-supporting native perennials, a Scutellaria species is starting to nip at its heels: Many times I’ve seen the showy, blue, distinctively hooded flowers of downy skullcap—Scutellaria incana—standing tall in perennial borders and in wild planting that take pleasure in little common upkeep. The plant is compelling.
Right here’s why.
Images by Marie Viljoen.
Additionally identified generally as hoary skullcap, Scutellaria incana is a local North American plant that checks the next containers: It blooms for a lot of weeks—even months—in late summer season; it flowers in full solar in addition to in shade; it attracts and helps pollinators and hummingbirds; it withstands intervals of drought; and it’s genuinely enticing, with myriad cerulean flowers.
Downy skullcap is a tall perennial, averaging round three toes. It begins to flower in late summer season, and continues to bloom for a lot of weeks. Whether it is deadheaded, these weeks prolong to months. It is rather efficient in meadows or wild-at-heart borders mixed with bee balms and milkweed, rudbeckias, helianthus and helenium, echinacea, obedient plant, agastache, and goldenrod.
Cheat Sheet
There are tons of of species of Scutellaria, worldwide. Downy skullcap is a wildflower native to the central and jap United States. Scutellaria belong to the Lamiaceae (mint) household. The sq. stems of downy skullcap (Scutellaria incana) are finely bushy. A number of species of Scutellaria are valued for his or her use in Conventional Chinese language Medication, in addition to Native American and different people medicines. Whereas the flowers of downy skullcap are enticing to pollinators and hummingbirds, the bitter foliage is (often!) deer-resistant.
Maintain It Alive
Downy skullcap is hardy from USDA zones 5 to eight. Plant it in full solar, semi-shade, or excessive shade. It’s tolerant of a variety of soils, besides those who stay waterlogged. Deadhead after its first flush of blooms to encourage contemporary development and second flush.
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