Pink Skullcap in bloom

Pink Skullcap in bloom

(Photo courtesy of NetPS Plant Finder)

Pink Skullcap flowers

Pink Skullcap flowers

(Photo courtesy of NetPS Plant Finder)

Pink Skullcap foliage

Pink Skullcap foliage

(Photo courtesy of NetPS Plant Finder)

Other Names:  Texas Skullcap, Cherry Skullcap, Mexican Skullcap

Description:

A beautiful herbaceous groundcover with a woody base, that is bathed with pink flowers all season; spectacular when in mass bloom; lovely in the garden, or along low borders or walkways

Ornamental Features

Pink Skullcap is bathed in stunning spikes of pink pea-like flowers rising above the foliage from late spring to mid fall. Its oval leaves remain green in color throughout the season.

Landscape Attributes

Pink Skullcap is an herbaceous annual with a ground-hugging habit of growth. Its medium texture blends into the garden, but can always be balanced by a couple of finer or coarser plants for an effective composition.

This plant will require occasional maintenance and upkeep, and should be cut back in late fall in preparation for winter. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Pink Skullcap is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Mass Planting
• General Garden Use
• Container Planting

Planting & Growing

Pink Skullcap will grow to be only 6 inches tall at maturity extending to 8 inches tall with the flowers, with a spread of 24 inches. When grown in masses or used as a bedding plant, individual plants should be spaced approximately 18 inches apart. Its foliage tends to remain low and dense right to the ground. Although it's not a true annual, this fast-growing plant can be expected to behave as an annual in our climate if left outdoors over the winter, usually needing replacement the following year. As such, gardeners should take into consideration that it will perform differently than it would in its native habitat.

This plant does best in full sun to partial shade. It does best in average to evenly moist conditions, but will not tolerate standing water. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This species is not originally from North America.

Pink Skullcap is a fine choice for the garden, but it is also a good selection for planting in outdoor pots and containers. Because of its spreading habit of growth, it is ideally suited for use as a 'spiller' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination; plant it near the edges where it can spill gracefully over the pot. Note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.