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Hairy Skullcap Scutellaria elliptica

Phonetic Spelling
skew-teh-LARE-ee ee-LIP-tih-kuh
Description

Hairy Skullcap is a wildflower in the mint family native to the central and eastern U.S.A. and is found growing along rocky woodlands, bluffs, wooded slopes, and rocky areas along streams. This plant will grow up to 2.5 feet tall and produce a raceme of blue to purple two-lipped hooded flowers. The leaves, stem and flowers all have hairs but the amount varies depending on what part of the country it is growing. The fruit is a 2-parted capsule containing 4 nutlets.

This plant prefers part shade in rocky to sandy soils with some organic material in a woodland-type setting. Even though it is often found growing along streams, it needs well-drained soils and doesn't tolerate standing water. Use this plant in a part shade or woodland garden in small groupings, in the border or on a slope. 

The foliage of this plant has a bitter taste so is often ignored by deer and rabbits.

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No Significant problems

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#showy flowers#purple flowers#native perennial#blue flowers#rabbit resistant#bumblebee friendly#NC native#deer resistant#native wildflower#larval host plant#food source summer#border front#NC Native Pollinator Plant#food source herbage#food source nectar#food source pollen#food source hard mast fruit#Audubon#woodland
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#showy flowers#purple flowers#native perennial#blue flowers#rabbit resistant#bumblebee friendly#NC native#deer resistant#native wildflower#larval host plant#food source summer#border front#NC Native Pollinator Plant#food source herbage#food source nectar#food source pollen#food source hard mast fruit#Audubon#woodland
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Scutellaria
    Species:
    elliptica
    Family:
    Lamiaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Division
    Seed
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Central and eastern U.S.A.
    Distribution:
    AL, AR, DC, DE, FL, GA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MD, MI, MO, MS, NC, NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA, SC, TN, TX, VA, WV
    Wildlife Value:
    This plant is a larval host for moths. Bees and butterflies visit the flowers.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Native Plant
    Perennial
    Wildflower
    Habit/Form:
    Erect
    Growth Rate:
    Medium
    Maintenance:
    Low
    Texture:
    Medium
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Texture:
    High Organic Matter
    Sand
    Shallow Rocky
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    Occasionally Dry
    Available Space To Plant:
    Less than 12 inches
    12 inches-3 feet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Summer
    Fruit Type:
    Capsule
    Fruit Length:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Width:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Description:
    2-parted capsule contains nutlets. The top section falls off to disperse the seeds leaving the lower scoop section on the plant. Fruit displays from summer to fall.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Blue
    Purple/Lavender
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Raceme
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Summer
    Flower Shape:
    Lipped
    Tubular
    Flower Petals:
    2-3 rays/petals
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    Purple and blue flowers bloom from May to July in a 4-inch long raceme. Individual flowers are up to 3/4 inches, 2-lipped with the upper one hooded and the lower one having white blotches. The calyx has long, spreading glandular hairs.
  • Leaves:
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Opposite
    Leaf Shape:
    Lanceolate
    Oblong
    Ovate
    Leaf Margin:
    Crenate
    Serrate
    Hairs Present:
    Yes
    Leaf Length:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Width:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Description:
    Green leaves are 1.5-3 inches long and 3/4 to 1.5 inches wide. Margins are crenate to serrate, the shape is lanceolate-oblong to oval, the base is rounded to broadly wedge-shaped (cuneate) and the tip is blunt. The underside of the leaf is paler with hairs. The upper surface is dotted with glands.
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Green
    Purple/Lavender
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Cross Section:
    Square
    Stem Surface:
    Hairy (pubescent)
    Stem Description:
    Square green stems often have purple markings along the ridges. The purple coloring is more prominent in the spring, then fades in summer.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Naturalized Area
    Slope/Bank
    Woodland
    Landscape Theme:
    Native Garden
    Rock Garden
    Shade Garden
    Design Feature:
    Border
    Small groups
    Attracts:
    Bees
    Butterflies
    Moths
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Deer
    Rabbits