Skullcaps are a genus of flowering plants in the mint family that is found in temperate areas worldwide. They can be annuals, perennials or aquatic plants. They grow 4 to 40 inches tall, have 4 angled stems and 2 lipped flowers with a shield on the calyx giving them the common name of skullcap. Most are deer and rabbit resistant as the leaves are bitter tasting. The genus name comes from the Latin word scutella meaning a small dish or saucer. The plant spreads by rhizomes and seeds. Popular varieties for the gardener prefer full to part sun, fertile moist soil and do well along ponds and marshy areas. However, there are varieties such as S. incana that do well in drier sites and are drought-tolerant once established. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems. Aphids, powdery mildew and leaf spot may occur
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.