Scutellaria indica var. parviflora - Skullcap

The Oriental skullcap, in Latin Scutellaria indica var. parviflora, is a small creeping perennial plant, very floriferous in late spring and summer. It develops numerous small tubular flowers, with two lips, in shades of lavender blue, above a small tuft of hairy leaves. It is a lovely rockery and border plant.

Scutellaria indica var. parviflora (synonym Scutellaria japonica HORT.) is native to Japan. It is a very cold-resistant plant, in well-drained soil. Slow-growing, it forms a small cushion of rounded, finely hairy, toothed, medium green leaves, evergreen in winter. The whole plant measures about 10 cm in height, with a slow-spreading crown. Flowering begins in June and can continue until August if the soil does not dry out too much. It produces floral spikes about 20 cm tall, adorned with small upright tubular flowers with two lips.

This plant is appreciated by enthusiasts of "true rockeries," that is, alpine rockeries. The lavender blue colour of its flowers associates beautifully with other small plants that like to grow between rocks or in well-drained borders: saxifrages, sun roses, thrifts, candytufts ...