Scutellaria
Skullcap, Helmet flower
- Height × spread
- 0.2m – 0.9m × 0.3m – 1m
- Position
- Full sun
Availability
Please ask in store about availability
Many plants are seasonal. Call 01234 567890 to check current stock.
About this plant
These quietly charming plants carry vertical flowering stems that hold the small but intriguing flowers. The flowers are in shades of white, yellow, blue and pink, individually small. They often attract notice because the flowers frequently appear on one side of the stem. There are forms that flower from summer going into autumn. Different varieties enjoy dry or moist positions, and can be as small as 10cm in height or as much as a metre.
- Flower colour
- Blue, Cream, Lilac, Mauve, Pink, Purple, Rose, White, Yellow
- Foliage colour
- Green
- Fruit colour
- Beige
- Variegated
- No
- Scent
- No
- Shape
- Bell, Column, Cube, Dome
- Height
- 0.2m – 0.9m
- Spread
- 0.3m – 1m
- Season of interest
- Summer, Autumn
- Evergreen
- Deciduous
- Garden style
- Wild flower meadow, Water garden, Rock garden, Prairie garden
- Sun or shade
- Likes full sun, likes part shade, likes light shade
- Soil type
- Chalk, Clay, Loam (normal), Poor soil
- Soil pH
- Alkaline, Neutral
- Drainage
- Moisture retentive soil, Well drained soil
- Winter hardiness
- Varies, most are hardy
- Borders & containers
- Borders
- Water depth
- Varieties differ
- Use for
- Ground cover
- Hazards
- No
Spring
Spring - late · Outdoors
Feed with slow release fertiliser
Apply a general purpose slow release fertiliser, spreading it around the root area of the plant as it is coming into growth. (Or apply a liquid feed at regular intervals throughout the growing season.)
This is a simple way to provide a nutrient boost as a single annual procedure.
Spring-Autumn · Outdoors
Water to keep the soil moist
For best results, this plant needs soil that is always moist. Water deeply and regularly as soon as soil appears dry. Even for established plants in the ground, a dry week can cause problems with some soils. Check plants in pots more often, especially in hot weather. Or install an automatic irrigation system which will do the hard work for you, even when you are away on holiday.
Without regular watering some plants never fully regain their beauty.
Spring - early-mid · Planting
Divide when too large
The plant can be divided if it becomes too large or another plant is required. This may involve physically dividing the clump in two, removing offsets or small bulbs or dividing rhizomes. The new plants can be grown in pots or planted in the ground.
Found in
More Scutellaria
Scutellaria altissima
Tallest skullcap
Scutellaria incana
Hoary skullcap
Scutellaria orientalis
Eastern skullcap
Scutellaria scordiifolia 'Seoul Sapphire'
Scorium-leaved skullcap
Scutellaria suffrutescens 'Texas Rose'
Shrubby skullcap
Scutellaria tournefortii
Tournefort's skullcap
Scutellaria lateriflora
Mad dog skullcap, Madweed, Virginian skullcap