1 named cultivar

‘Texas Rose’Texas Rose Skullcap

perennialN. America Native

Pink Skullcap

The Story

Plant Bio

Scutellaria suffrutescens, pink skullcap, is a dense low semi-evergreen sub-shrub from northeastern Mexico, four to eight inches high and spreading twelve to eighteen. Narrow grey-green leaves up to three inches long clothe square stems, and small pink to rose tubular flowers open over an unusually long season from spring to autumn.

It flowers almost without stopping from spring to frost on a plant only a few inches high, which is rare in something this drought-tolerant. NCSU records it drawing butterflies, bees, hummingbirds and beneficial insects at once. The mat is dense enough to work as groundcover but low enough to sit at the front of a gravel bed without hiding anything.

Uses & Benefits:

A dense low mat covered in small pink tubular flowers from spring to frost.

Drought-tolerant, low maintenance and small enough for the front of any sunny bed.

Draws butterflies, bees, hummingbirds and beneficial insects across a very long season.

Essentials

At a Glance

Plant Type

Perennial

Height

8 inches

Width

15 inches

Light

Full Sun, Partial Sun

Zones

7, 8, 9, 10

Water

Low

Humidity

Low

Lifespan

Perennial

Native To

Northeastern Mexico

Toxicity

Non-toxic

Planting

How to Grow

Plant in full sun; it will not flower in shade.
Give it sharply drained soil, however poor.
Water while establishing, then very sparingly.
Do not feed; lean soil keeps it dense.
Shear lightly if it opens up in midsummer.
Avoid winter wet, which is what kills it.

Pro Tip

Winter wet kills it far more often than winter cold — plant it on a slope, a gravel bed or a wall top rather than in level ground.

Keep It Thriving

Care Guide

Do

Plant it in full sun ☀️
Give it sharp drainage 🪨
Shear lightly midseason ✂️
Keep the soil lean 🌱

Don't

Plant it in shade ❌
Feed or enrich the soil ❌
Let it sit wet in winter ❌

Seasonal Care Calendar

Task	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Enjoy
Shear

Watch Out For

Pests & Diseases

Common Pests

Common Diseases

In the Garden

Landscape Uses & Companions

Landscape Uses

Front of a sunny border and rock gardenGroundcover on a slope or bankContainers, wall tops and small spaces

Companion Plants

Blackfoot Daisy Damianita DianthusBlue Fescue Sedum

Multiply

Propagation Methods

Good to Know

Common Questions

Pink Skullcap questions

What zones can Pink Skullcap grow in?

Pink Skullcap is hardy in USDA Zones 7–10. Inside that range it survives winter in the ground; outside it, grow it as an annual or a container plant you protect.

Is Pink Skullcap deer resistant?

Not reliably. Deer may browse Pink Skullcap, especially tender spring growth — plan on repellents or fencing where pressure is high.

When does Pink Skullcap bloom?

Pink Skullcap typically blooms in spring to fall through late summer. Exact timing shifts a week or two with your zone — Sow's bloom calendar maps it to your garden.

Does Pink Skullcap need full sun?

Pink Skullcap does best in full sun to part shade. In hot climates, afternoon shade keeps blooms fresher longer.

Is Pink Skullcap drought tolerant?

Yes — once established (usually after the first full season), Pink Skullcap handles dry spells with minimal watering. Water deeply its first year to build the root system that makes that possible.