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Plants that fill a similar niche:
Scutellaria integrifolia Flowers
Viola sororia Viola papilionacea
Pontederia cordata Pontederia cordata

Scutellaria incana

Common Name(s):

Phonetic Spelling
skoot-ul-AIR-ee-uh in-KAN-nuh
Description

Downy Skullcap is a perennial wildflower found in dry forests and woodlands. Square stems are covered with fine white hairs and small purplish-blue flowers bloom in loose racemes. This plant is seen in open woods, slopes and along streams. It prefers moderate moisture in well-drained soil but tolerates sandy, clay, and poor soils. It grows in dry woods or clearings. This plant is tolerant of heat and drought. 

This plant was selected as the 2014 NC Wildflower of the Year, a program managed by the North Carolina Botanical Garden with some financial support from the Garden Club of North Carolina.

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • Scutellaria incana var. punctata
Scutellaria incana var. punctata
Tags:
#bumblebees#NC native#summer flowers#native garden#native wildflower#wildflower garden#food source herbage#food source pollen#sandy soils tolerant#clay soils tolerant#bird friendly#food source hard mast fruit#moth larvae#Audubon#NC Wildflower of the Year
 
Scutellaria incana
Dan Nydick CC BY-NC 4.0
Scutellaria incana
Kristine Paulus CC BY 4.0
Scutellaria incana
ProteinBiochemist CC BY-NC 4.0
Scutellaria incana
Eleanor CC BY-NC 4.0
Scutellaria incana
Dan Nydick CC BY-NC 4.0
Scutellaria incana
Dan Nydick CC BY-NC 4.0
Scutellaria incana
Scutellaria incana growth habit Debbie Roos
bloom with bumblebee, summer, McDowell County, NC
bloom with bumblebee, summer, McDowell County, NC Eva Munday CC BY-NC 4.0
bloom, summer, Iredell County, NC
bloom, summer, Iredell County, NC Eva Munday CC BY-NC 4.0
seed pods, McDowell County, NC
seed pods, McDowell County, NC Eva Munday CC BY-NC 4.0
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • Scutellaria incana var. punctata
Scutellaria incana var. punctata
Tags:
#bumblebees#NC native#summer flowers#native garden#native wildflower#wildflower garden#food source herbage#food source pollen#sandy soils tolerant#clay soils tolerant#bird friendly#food source hard mast fruit#moth larvae#Audubon#NC Wildflower of the Year
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Scutellaria
    Species:
    incana
    Family:
    Lamiaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    North Central & Eastern U.S.A
    Dimensions:
    Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 1 ft. 6 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Native Plant
    Wildflower
  • 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 Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    Occasionally Dry
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    5b, 5a, 6b, 6a, 7b, 7a, 8b, 8a
  • Fruit:
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Fall
    Summer
    Fruit Description:
    Fruits are available August-October.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Blue
    Purple/Lavender
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Summer
    Flower Description:
    Purplish-blue flowers in loose racemes. Flowers bloom July-August.
  • Leaves:
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    White
    Leaf Shape:
    Ovate
    Hairs Present:
    Yes
    Leaf Description:
    Hairy with minute whitish hairs.
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Surface:
    Hairy (pubescent)
    Stem Description:
    Square stem covered with fine white hairs
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Theme:
    Native Garden
    Pollinator Garden
    Attracts:
    Bees
    Moths
    Songbirds
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Drought
    Heat