Texas Skullcap: Pink and Raspberry

Description

Botanical Name:  Scutellaria suffrutescens

Common Name:  Hot Pink Skullcap, Raspberry Skullcap

Description:  Texas adapted perennial originally from Mexico. Loves our heat and humidity and does great in sun to part sun. Doesn’t like areas that stay consistently wet, does fine in regular garden areas or in drier areas such as rock gardens or where there’s no irrigation. Grows approximately 20″ tall x 2-4′ wide (yes, 2-4 feet!), which makes it a great groundcover.

I have two color varieties: Hot Pink and Raspberry.

Both bloom those gorgeous flowers Spring through Fall. Once established, it is very drought tolerant. Excellent in the ground or in large containers. Attracts butterflies and bees. Drops its leaves in the winter, but the stems don’t die back.

These plants in 1-gallon containers are about 1′ tall x 1- 2′ wide.

Fun Fact:  Skullcap is a powerful medicinal herb and it is used in alternative medicine as an anti-inflammatory, abortifacient, antispasmodic, slightly astringent, emmenagogue, febrifuge, nervine, sedative, and a strong tonic. Skullcap is also utilized in treating a wide range of nervous conditions including epilepsy, insomnia, hysteria, anxiety, delirium tremens, and withdrawal from barbiturates and tranquilizers. A medicinal infusion of this plant is used to promote menstruation. It should not be given to a pregnant woman since it can induce miscarriage. Scutellaria infusion is also used for treating neuralgia, headaches in general as well as those arising from incessant coughing, without any unpleasant side effects. Normally, it should be used with extra caution since an overdose of this medicinal herb can cause giddiness, stupor, confusion, and twitching.

Skullcap is well known among the Cherokee and other Native American tribes, as a strong emmenagogue and medicinal herb for females. It is used in some tribes as a ceremonial plant to induct young girls into womanhood. Native Americans used skullcap to promote menstruation, and it was reputed to be effective against rabies, hence some of its common names. Cherokee women use skullcap to maintain healthy menstrual cycles, and a root decoction is taken after the birth of a child to stimulate the reproductive system. Skullcap is also used in purification ceremonies if menstrual taboos are broken. The Iroquois use an infusion of the root to keep the throat clear. Other Native American tribes use closely related species as bitter tonics for the kidneys. The herb is used to induce visions and as a ceremonial plant to be smoked as tobacco by some Native Indians. ~Purdue Horticulture Dept.~

Hardiness Zones 7 – 9