Rough Skullcap (Scutellaria integrifolia) is a lovely Florida native wildflower known for its attractive blue blooms.
Florida Native: Yes
Size at Maturity: Reaches 1-2 feet (30-60 cm) tall and can be branched near the base with erect stems.
Growth Rate: Moderate
Bloom Season: Typically blooms in late spring and summer, gracing landscapes with its beauty.
Flower Color: Showy bluish-lavender flowers with two lips forming a hood-like structure, resembling a medieval helmet (hence the common name). These flowers are clustered or solitary in the axils (upper angles) of leaves, forming an elongated cluster along the stem.
Leaf Shape: Opposite leaves with varying shapes. Those near the bottom are often coarsely toothed and roughly 1/3 to 1 1/4 inches long. Upper leaves tend to be narrower, untoothed, and up to 2 inches long.
Sunlight Requirements: Prefers full sun to light shade.
Soil Texture: Adapts well to moist to dry, well-drained sandy soils.
Soil pH: Tolerates a wide range of soil pH levels.
Moisture Requirements: Average to moist. Water regularly during dry periods, especially when young. Once established, it's moderately drought tolerant.
Salt Spray Tolerance: No
Recommended Landscape Uses:
* Wildflower gardens
* Meadows
* Borders
* Naturalized areas
Maintenance Tips: Low maintenance. Here's what you can do to keep your Rough Skullcap thriving:
* Water regularly during dry periods, especially during the first growing season.
* Deadhead spent flowers to potentially encourage additional blooms (optional).
* You can divide clumps every few years in spring to maintain vigor and control spread (optional).
Considerations:
* Generally pest and disease resistant.
* Self-seeds readily, so you may need to control unwanted spread in some cases.
Wildlife Benefits:
* Attracts bees and other pollinators.
Toxicity: No known toxicity to humans or pets.
Additional Information:
* Rough Skullcap is a valuable addition to butterfly gardens and wildflower meadows, providing nectar for pollinators.
* It's a great choice for attracting beneficial insects to your landscape.
