Scutellaria incana, also known as Hoary or Downy Skullcap, has attractive light violet-blue flowers on upright hairy stems. A member of the mint family, Scutellaria incana is a mounding perennial with fragrant, ovate green leaves. The racemes of small, two-lipped purplish blue hooded flowers appear mid to late summer. Hoary Skullcap is a bushy rhizomatous perennial that is lovely in natural settings, wildlife gardens and tucked into the lightly shaded flower border. It is pollinated by bumble bees and also visited by butterflies and hummingbirds.
Scutellaria incana is native to most of the eastern half of the United States from Texas to Wisconsin, eastward to New York and south to Florida. It is endemic to open woods, clearings, sunny meadows, and wooded stream sides.
Scutellaria incana prefers dappled sun and average to dry, well-drained soil. It tolerates full sun with sufficient moisture.
