Scutellaria alpina aka Alpine Scullcap

Scutellaria alpina, or alpine skullcap, belongs to the mint family, Lamiaceae. It grows in temperate parts of Europe. Kew places its native range in south-central and southern Europe. Missouri Botanical Garden gives a broader range, reaching Siberia. There, it grows on rocky alpine ground rich in lime. Its reported habitats lie at 4,500–8,200 feet [1,372–2,499 metres]. It is not native to Britain or Ireland. The RHS lists Scutellaria supina as a synonym.

This low plant has many stems and a partly creeping form. Missouri Botanical Garden describes it as an herbaceous perennial. Kew classes it as a subshrub, reflecting its woody stem bases. In gardens, it reaches about 0.5 feet [0.15 metres] tall. It spreads slowly to about 1 foot [0.3 metres] wide. Rhizomes help it spread across the ground. Its branched stems are square, with small leaves in opposite pairs. Each leaf is oval, with rounded to pointed marginal teeth. Leaves measure about 0.06–0.13 feet [0.02–0.04 metres] long.

Flowers appear from June to August and rise above the foliage. Their two-lipped shape recalls a small snapdragon bloom. Their colour ranges from violet to white with purple tones. Each flower reaches about 0.08 feet [0.025 metres] long. Dense, short racemes form at the stem tips. These clusters can reach 0.25 feet [0.076 metres] long. The flowers provide the plant's main show in summer. Its low form suits a rock garden.

Grow alpine skullcap in full sun with soil that drains well. It accepts poor soil as well as soil of moderate fertility. Neutral to alkaline conditions suit it best. Missouri Botanical Garden advises adding limestone where soil is acidic. Keep soil moderately moist rather than wet. In hot summer areas, light afternoon shade can help. The listed hardiness range is USDA zones 5–8. Its modest size and low upkeep needs suit small planting spaces.

Heat and humid air can make the stems long and sparse. Cutting back in mid-spring or after bloom helps limit this growth. Serious insect and disease problems are not usual. Still, powdery mildew and leaf spot can occur. Watch for aphids on the stems and leaves. The supplied sources give no species-level details on fruit or edible parts. They also provide no basis for a toxicity rating.