Skullcap

Scutellaria suffrutescens

Scutellaria suffrutescens, known as Mexican Skullcap or Pink Texas Skullcap, is a delightful, low-growing, woody-based perennial in the mint family. It adorns gardens with its charming tiny, tubular, two-lipped flowers that resemble little snapdragons, blooming in lovely shades of pink and rose from May all the way to October. These sweet blooms, reaching up to 3/4 inch, sit gracefully atop square stems, surrounded by pretty, small, oval-rounded gray-green leaves that resemble thyme. Typically, these plants create a lush, compact mound that grows up to 8 inches tall and spreads about 15 inches wide. This particular skullcap proudly calls northern Mexico its home, and there's some delightful evidence suggesting it also has roots in Texas.

For the best results, plant this gem in dry to medium, well-drained soils with plenty of sunshine. It can handle a bit of light afternoon shade, too. It thrives beautifully in hot and humid climates and maintains its evergreen charm in its frost-free Mexican home. Plus, it often self-seeds to create a lovely, dense ground cover. In northern regions, some above-ground stems may take a break during winter, but don’t worry—the roots will spring back to life with new branches come springtime. This hardy little plant is winter resilient to USDA Zone 7, and it might just surprise you by surviving some winters in Zone 6, especially if given a sheltered spot and a little winter protection. While it might not self-seed in colder climates, you can also enjoy it as an annual for your garden.