Scutellaria suffrutescens, commonly known as Mexican skullcap, is a low-growing, woody-based, herbaceous perennial in the mint family. It features tiny, tubular, two-lipped, snapdragon-like, pink to rose flowers (to 3/4”) which bloom non-stop from May to October atop square stems clad with small, oval-rounded, thyme-like, gray-green foliage. Plants typically grow in a dense but compact spreading mound to 8” tall and 15” wide. This skullcap is native to northern Mexico. Some evidence supports the idea that plants are also native to Texas.
Grow in dry to medium, well-drained soils in full sun. Tolerates some light afternoon shade. It performs well in hot and humid climates and is evergreen to semi-evergreen in its frost-free Mexican habitat, often self-seed to form a dense ground cover. Some above-ground stems usually die in winter in the northern parts of their growing range, but roots will push up new branches in spring. Winter hardy to USDA Zone 7 but may survive some winters in Zone 6 if sited in sheltered locations with winter protection. Self-seeding is not expected in cold winter climates. It may be grown as an annual.
