The North Carolina Botanical Garden of the University of North Carolina has selected hoary skullcap (Scutellaria incana var. punctata) as the 2014 North Carolina Wildflower of the Year.
Hoary skullcap - by Dale Batchelor
This native perennial in the mint family has unusual-shaped violet-blue to lavender flowers. Like other members of the mint family, horary skullcap has aromatic leaves. And while no plant is entirely “deer-proof,” hoary skullcap is generally thought to be fairly deer and rabbit resistant because of the bitter-tasting foliage. It thrives in a range of soil types and light levels.
A free brochure describing hoary skullcap, including seeds and growing instructions, is available from the Botanical Garden. T-shirts and tote bags with a botanical illustration of the wildflower can be purchased at the Garden Shop. (ncbg.unc.edu)