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Botanical Garden

Scutellaria longifolia - Red fountain, Purple fountain

Family Lamiaceae

Description:

About 300 species of Scutellaria are found around the world. They are herbaceous plants, often with attractive flowers. The identity of this particular plant is confused in popular literature and it may be found as Scutellaria longifolia, S. longiflora, S. costaricana, and even as a species of Salvia. Obviously, this plant is not well-known or widely grown in gardens. Apparently, this is a wild species from the mountains of Mexico and Central America. They have short spikes of bright fuschia-red, tubular flowers on new growth. It will bloom over a long season if conditions are good for continued growth.

Size:

A herbaceous perennial. Popular references describe this plant as two to five feet tall. Local plants grow low and spreading.

Care Instructions:

Light: sun to part shade

Water: moist, well-drained soil, not very drought tolerant

Soil: adaptable to soil types, no other special requirements

This plant seems to grow best in Jacksonville in a moist, well-drained soil in a sun or part sun.