Scutellaria incana (Hoary Skullcap, Downy Skullcap)

[McDonough]

I have always liked "scoots" as I call them, the varied species of Scutellaria.  Many are excellent plants for the rock garden, some can be aggressively spreading by stolons (so be forwarned, do your research), and there are well-behaved tall types suitable to the perennial border or wildflower meadow garden.

I was given a plant of Scutellaria incana by a garden visitor, and it turns out to be a highly ornamental plant, now among my favorite scoots.  The species is native to much of eastern USA, found in 3 different varieties (var. incana, var. australis, var. punctata); I'm assuming mine is var. incana.

While it does grow 1.5 - 3' tall, it an elegant plant of refined growth and leafage, valued for the super long display of flowers July through September (mine continue into October, witness my photos) when few other herbaceous plants are flowering, followed by an autumn show of whimsical purplish red seed pods.  This plant has it all going on.

I show photos of a young flowering plant in 2008, and a couple views in 2009 after the plant put on lots of growth and numerous spikes of bloom.  For further photos and information, including range maps, check out the links provided.

USDA Map
http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=SCIN

an alternate distribution map (click on map to enlarge):
http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.everwilde.com/BONAP-Wildflower-Maps/Scutellaria-incana-Distribution-Map.gif&imgrefurl=http://www.everwilde.com/store/Scutellaria-incana-WildFlower-Seed.html&h=1030&w=1020&sz=147&tbnid=Y2Las6actFqqFM:&tbnh=150&tbnw=149&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dscutellaria%2Bincana&hl=en&usg=__weTRsMEBBjRY2utHMEC7L0jr8yY=&ei=s3-FS_-JAo3UM7qFuDQ&sa=X&oi=image_result&resnum=8&ct=image&ved=0CBQQ9QEwBw

3 good images
http://www.northcreeknurseries.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/plants.plantDetail/plant_id/268/index.htm

Rob's Plants (some good images)
http://www.robsplants.com/plants/ScuteIncan.php

Image from University of Texas at Austin
http://www.wildflower.org/gallery/result.php?id_image=24550

[Lori S.]

Excellent photo essay, Mark!
That's a very attractive plant, and it certainly does have a lot going for it even beyond the flowering season.  I'll definitely keep an eye out for seeds.

[McDonough]

I'm looking at plants from a new vantage point recently, of proven drought resistance, given endless weeks of heat and drought this year.  With Scutellaria incana more established after planting three years ago, not only does the plant show very little stress from drought, it has grown larger and with more stems, and just breaking out into flower here at the beginning of August, a welcome and imposing sight in the garden.  The stems have reached 3-1/2' (105 cm) tall.

[McDonough]

Today, a good overall view of Scutellaria incana.  A few of the lower leaves are turning yellow from the drought, but overall, I'm most impressed at how the plant is doing given that it's had almost no rainfall (and no hose watering) in 2 months.  We may be needing to pay special attention to such drought-resistant plants in the future, even here in New England.

[McDonough]

Cross-linking to 2010 photos of the seed pods of Scutellaria incana, which put on a great show this year in spite of the record drought.
http://nargs.org/smf/index.php?topic=336.msg4438#msg4438