Species downy skullcap
purple-white flowers with green-cream buds, green leaves and stems

downy skullcap

Scutellaria incana

Downy skullcap (Scutellaria incana) is a herbaceous perennial wildflower native to the United States and Canada, but can also be found in parts of Europe and Asia. Its small, white, tubular flowers are produced in whorled clusters on the stems of lightly-downy foliage, and bloom from June to August. The foliage of downy skullcap can reach up to 10 inches in height, and alternate, lance-shaped leaves are less than 1 inch in length. This plant is considered to be a great addition to meadows and cottage gardens. Although it is tolerant of a variety of soil types, downy skullcap prefers moist to wet soils. This drought-tolerance plant is an excellent choice for gardeners looking to create an eye-catching and low-maintenance display.

Cycle:

Herbaceous Perennial

Watering:

Minimum

Propagation:

Seed Propagation,Cutting,Division,Layering Propagation

Hardiness Zone:

5 - 8

Flowers:

Blue Flowers

Sun:

Full sun,part shade

Leaf:

Yes

Leaf Color:

green

Growth Rate:

Low

Maintenance:

Low

Drought Tolerant:

Yes

Care Level:

Medium

watering

Downy skullcap (Scutellaria incana) requires consistent moisture, but not soggy soil. Water the plant deeply once a week, and allow the top inch or 2 of soil to dry out between waterings. In the hottest summer months, the plant may require more frequent watering.

sunlight

Downy skullcap is an easily grown herbaceous plant that prefers a full to partial sun exposure. For best growth and flowering, it needs 6-8 hours of direct sunlight per day in the spring and summer, while it is able to tolerate as little as 4-5 hours of direct sunlight in the fall and winter. If given too much sun however, the plant may become sun-scorched or overly dry. Additionally, it can also grow in light shade, as long as the amount of indirect light is still sufficient to support strong growth and blooming.

pruning

Downy skullcap should be pruned in late winter or early spring, just before growth begins. Start by removing dead and damaged stems to improve air circulation. Prune off any leggy or overgrown stems to keep the plant from getting too dense. You should also remove any flower heads that have dropped off during the previous season. When pruning Downy skullcap, aim for a uniform shape and avoid cutting more than 1/3 of the stem at once. This will ensure the plant has plenty of energy to support new growth.

Season

Fall
Winter
Spring
Summer
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Starts Flowering

Downy skullcap typically starts flowering in late spring, usually in May or June.

Starts Flowering

Downy skullcap typically starts flowering in late spring, usually in May or June.

Hardiness Map