Species Name:  Scutellaria incana

Common Name: Hoary Skullcap, Downy Skullcap

Zone: 3 to 8

Light: Full sun to Partial shade

Soil Moisture: Moist to Medium to Dry, Well drained

Soil Types: Sand, Gravel, Loam, Clay

Fertility: Poor to Medium

pH: 5 to 7.0

Bloom Time: June, July, August

Habit: Hoary skullcap grows as a 2 to 3 ft mound producing abundant purple-blue flowers that bloom for several weeks in mid-summer. The flowers are attractive to numerous pollinators. In residential landscapes it makes a fine addition to the mixed perennial border, wildflower garden or for massing and covering a difficult site.  It is also very valuable for creating habitat in naturalized settings.

Hoary Skullcap is a member of the mint family with square stems and although the foliage does not have the fragrance of other mints it is unpalatable to deer, a valuable trait for a desirable native perennial.

Hoary skullcap spreads by strong rhizomes to form large clumps as well as readily propagating from seed. It tolerates a wide range of soil conditions from sand to clay and dry to moist. It grows in full sun to partial shade. In the wild it can be found in old fields, meadows, roadside strips, open woodlands and brushy thickets. It is a very tough and durable plant and for this reason it should be planted in native gardens or introduced into natural habitats where it is absent and can naturalize and spread on its own.