Sunshine Farm and Gardens: Glick Pick Archives: Scutellaria serrata

Sunshine Farm and Gardens

Rare and Exceptional Plants for the
Discriminating Gardener and Collector

Scutellaria serrata

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Well..........Happy Standard Time, that is if you live in this Hemisphere. Happy Daylight Savings time if you don't.

I'm pleased to announce that the somewhat erratic "Glick Pick of the Week" will embark on a trend back to "weekliness", now that temperatures here have plunged into the 20's and I'm starting to spend a bit more time inside in front of this CRT.

I have to thank my dear friend Pete Heus of Enchanter's Gardens in Hinton, WV for turning me on to this weeks GPOW. I would supply you with a link to Peter's web page if he had one, or his email address if he was on line Hell, if he even had a computer..........

Oh well that's another story in itself. You see, my friend Peter is a Luddite. Well, he's not that bad. (Wondering what a Luddite is?) Peter does have a very cool mail order plant biz growing some very rare and unusual Eastern Natives in large pots and he ships everywhere. He does have a catalog, electricity and a phone so call him and tell him that I said to send you his catalog. 304-466-3154 or drop a postcard in the mail to him at Buck Route Box 158, Hinton, WV 25951.

Anyway, Scutellaria serrata has many seasons of interest. In the Spring, as the foliage emerges and unfolds, you will be thrilled with the dark, brownish purple rim perfectly edging the margin of the leaves. That edging gets darker and more pronounced as the growing season progresses. In late Spring and early Summer, 1"-2" dark lavender, upright trumpets nod their soft, fuzzy heads at you. After the flowers are pollinated, the seed heads are attractive as well as they age to a soft, chestnut brown color.

In a group setting in the middle to the front of a sunny to part shade border, Scutellaria seratta will certainly elicit comments and praise from all who pass by it.

Propagation is easy from seeds that are set in the cutest little cup like structures that have a lid that opens when the seeds are ripe, cuttings and division should be easy options also.

Just the facts M'am:
Kingdom - Plantae
Division - Magnoliophyta
Class - Magnoliopsida
Subclass - Asteridae
Order - Lamiales
Family - Lamiaceae
Genus - Scutellaria
Species - serrata
Common name - genus - "Skullcap"
Common name - species - "Allegheny Skullcap", "Showy Skullcap"
Synonyms - ???????????
Native of - Rich woods and bluffs. New York to West Virginia and southward to South Carolina, Alabama and Missouri.
USDA Hardiness Zone - zone 5, maybe 4?
Light preference - Full sun to full shade
Soil preference - Average
Moisture preference - Average to moist
Bloom time - Mid Summer
Bloom color - Deep Lavender
Foliage - Medium to light green with a dark rim
Spread - clumps to about 12"
Height - 12" -24"
Landscape uses - Mid border
Medicinal uses - antispasmodic, diuretic, sedative, and tonic, see http://www.metromkt.net/viable/1skullca.sht ml

A complete set of back issues of "Glick Pick of the Week" is available for the asking. If you would like me to send them, or if you would like to, first see the list, send me an email. Also, if you're getting more than one copy of this weekly mailing, or would like to subscribe a friend, or for some crazy reason, to unsubscribe, let me know.

© 2001 Barry Glick and Sunshine Farm & Gardens

Barry Glick, Sunshine Farm and Gardens
696 Glicks Rd, Renick, WV 24966, USA
Phone: (304) 497-2208
E-mail: barry@sunfarm.com

Last modified February 25, 2020
URL: https://www.sunfarm.com/picks/scutellariaserrata-124312.phtml