FNPS Plant Database

Scutellaria integrifolia

rough skullcap, helmet skullcap
  • Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS
  • Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS
  • Photo by: Ginny Stibolt, Ixia Chapter FNPS
  • Photo by: Ginny Stibolt, Ixia Chapter FNPS

Nomenclature

Common Name:

rough skullcap, helmet skullcap

Synonym(s):

Genus species:

Scutellaria integrifolia

Family:

Lamiaceae (Labiatae)

Plant Specifics

Form:

Flower

Size:

1–2 ft

Life Span:

Long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

blue, purple

Fruit Color:

Phenology:

Winter dormant

Noted For:

Showy Flowers

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:

Wildflower garden. It blooms early before most of the other wildflowers.

Considerations:

It's a prolific reseeder.

Availability:

Native Nurseries, Specialty Provider, Seed

Propagation:

Seeds are available through the Florida Wildflowers Growers Cooperative.

Light:

Full Sun

Moisture Tolerance:

Always Flooded---------------------------------Extremely Dry

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Somewhat moist, no flooding -to- Very long very dry periods

Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:

Unknown

Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:

Some tolerance to salty wind but not direct salt spray

Soil or Other Substrate:

Sand

Soil pH:

Suitable to Grow In:

USDA zones are based on the average annual extreme minimum winter temperature.

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Vouchered In:

Distribution
Vouchered
Not vouchered
Selected
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No county distribution is available for this plant yet.
Starting…
Map coded by Melissa Fernandez-de Cespedes (Paynes Prairie Chapter)

Ecology

Wildlife:

Pollinators, Butterflies

Flowers attract pollinators, likely bees, flies, and/or butterflies and moths.

Native Habitats:

Upland mixed forests, flatwoods, sandhill, ruderal areas

Natural Range in Florida:

Comments:

Ethnobotany:

General Comments:

Salt tolerance has not been studied but it has been recorded (in New England) in salt marshes, suggesting tolerance of at least brackish water and likely tolerance of some salt spray. Information is lacking regarding pollination for the species. However, the family exhibits flowers that are hermaphrodite, dioecious, or gynodioecious (fairly commonly), and is most often pollinated by insects, (bees, butterflies & moths, or flies). Also has cleistogamous flowers,so self pollination may also occur(Collins 1976 as cited in New England Native Plant Trust, 2002).
FNPS Plant Print

Citations:

Miller, Kate E. (2002). Scutellaria integrifolia L, Hyssop Skullcap, Conservation and Research Plan
for New England. ( ). Accessed 2026. New England Wild Flower Society, Framingham, MA.


Huegel, Craig N. (2012). Native Wildflowers and Other Ground Covers for Florida Landscapes. University Press of Florida, Gainesville.


Wunderlin, R. P, B. F. Hansen, A. R. Franck, and F. B. Essig. (1999+). Atlas of Florida Plants. ( https://florida.plantatlas.usf.edu/ ). [S. M. Landry and K. N. Campbell (application development), USF Water Institute.] Institute for Systematic Botany, University of South Florida, Tampa.

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