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| This species of skullcap is found growing
between stones at the edges of dry stream beds, on rocky hillsides, and here and there in
the foothills of interior northern California. Each individual stalk gets perhaps a foot
high, with nearly inch long narrow oval leaves in pairs up the stalk. The flowers form in
the leaf axils of the top few leaves, are almost an inch long, and are dark blue with a
white patch on the lower lip.
But one individual stalk is never found. A dense network of rhizomes colonizes underground and sends up lots of closely spaced stalks such that they hold each other up. In the wild, colonies are limited by rigors of competition and harsh conditions. Under cultivation, this plant can take advantage of your kindness. S. antirrhinoides should be used in places where you do not plan to irrigate much if at all. We have a colony at the edge of the driveway in an area that gets water at most every three weeks in the summer, and it is gradually taking more and more area. It would be an excellent choice as ground cover for a parking strip, or in a dry rock garden situation. In lush conditions, S. antirrhinoides will colonize large areas relatively quickly, but will still go dormant at the end of summer for a couple of months until the winter rains begin. This skullcap begins to grow with the winter rains. At first there are just crowded leaves against the soil, as each new stem jockeys for space. Then, as the spring arrives, the stalks elongate, and finally the clump is covered with dark blue flowers. Since they are very dark blue, they are most effective up close. Catalog description by Gary Matson |
Blue skullcap is available in 4-inch pot size for $5.95 each. |
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