The branching, spike-like flower clusters are adorned with purple to blue, 1" long, tubular, hooded flowers with a prominent bright white bee guide on the lower lip and are held atop sturdy 24-36" high stems. Flowering begins as early as late spring in warmer regions to midsummer in colder climates. The flowers attract mainly bees, flower flies, and smaller butterflies. Downy Skullcap, Scutellaria incana, is a rhizomatous, clump forming, native, herbaceous perennial found in open forests, forest margins, and along streams in the eastern US. In nature, it is typically found in partially shaded average moist to dryish soils but will happily accept rich, moist soils with good drainage and can tolerate *full sun in cooler summer climates. Use this tough and easy, deer and rabbit resistant perennial in naturalistic settings like roadside plantings, meadows, and prairies or add it to the cottage garden for weeks of color in summer. This species was selected as the 2014 North Carolina Wildflower of the Year. Item# 13401