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.
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)