Downy skullcap is a native perennial wildflower in the Lamiaceae (mint) family. Found growing in shady dry forests and open woodlands, and along slopes and streambanks. The square stems are covered with fine white hairs and small purplish-blue flowers bloom in loose racemes in summer. The genus name comes from the Latin word scutella meaning a small dish or saucer. These plants have bitter-tasting leaves so are usually ignored by deer and rabbits. 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. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious problems.
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.
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day) | Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
High Organic Matter; Sand; Shallow Rocky
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Dry
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in. | Width: 1 ft. 6 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect
Texture
Medium
Leaf color
Green; White
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Opposite
Leaf shape
Ovate
Leaf margin
Crenate
Leaf size
1-3 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
The green ovate leaves are covered with minute whitish hairs on the undersides. Margins are crenate. They grow up to 3 inches long and 1.5 inches across.
Flower color
Blue; Purple/Lavender
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Raceme
Flower shape
Lipped; Tubular
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Purplish-blue flowers in loose racemes up to 6 inches long. Individual flowers are 3/4 inch long, 2-lipped with the upper lip hooded and the lower with a white patch near the throat. Flowers bloom July-August.
Bloom time
Summer
Fruit color
Brown/Copper
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit detail
The 2 parted capsule contains nutlets. The top portion falls off to release seeds while the scoop section stays on the plant. Fruits are available August-October.
Stem color
Green
Stem detail
Square stem covered with fine white hairs
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
North Central & Eastern U.S.A
Wildlife value
Larval host to moths. Bees and butterflies visit the flowers