Scutellaria incana, the hoary skullcap or downy skullcap, is native to North America.

S. incana grows to about 1 m (3 ft) tall with stems that have short, dense, gray hairs. As with many other plants in the mint family, its stems are 4-angled (square). The leaves have coarse, blunt teeth and are covered by fine hair.

Purplish blue flowers occur in a dense in clusters near the end of the stem. The upper lip is hooded (the "skullcap") and the lower lip is larger and broader with a white patch near the throat.

In it's native range it can be found in mesic or dry, partially shady habitats, including upland forests, rocky woodland slopes, thinly wooded bluffs, rocky slopes along rivers, upland meadows in wooded areas, thickets, and along roadsides in woodlands.

The flowers bloom in late summer and are pollinated primarily by bumblebees. Other insects visit the plant to drink the nectar.

Type: Hardy perennial

Hardiness zone: 5-8

Height: 36", 90cm

Location: Part sun or part shade

Seeds per packet: 15