In Jo's Yard - 16 Helmut Skullcap

Twenty (20) days after planting, one of my Helmet Skullcap plants is in bloom!  Yea!  Helmet Skullcap (Scutellaria integrifolia) is the most widespread and common member of this mint family genus.  It is found statewide in Florida except for the most southern tier of counties, and throughout much of the eastern half of the U.S. 

Helmet skullcap is a deciduous perennial which dies back to the ground in winter and re-emerges again in early spring.  It begins as a basal rosette of arrow-shaped leaves, but soon produces its upright stalk with opposite, mostly elliptical, leaves.  Leaf shape can be somewhat variable in this species, however, and sometimes the leaves remain arrow-shaped at least halfway up the stem.  Mature stems reach a height of about 2 - 2 1/2 feet before the flowers appear in early summer.  I look forward to seeing more of these in bloom!  Below are photos of the same plant at 20 days (July) and 10 months (May).  

                 20 days after planting                                                 10 months after planting-spectacular!