Photo: b.gliwa, CC BY-SA 2.5 · source
Pruning guide · Herbaceous plant
Skullcap: when and how to prune
Scutellaria galericulata
Skullcap is best pruned in March.
| Pruning months | March |
|---|---|
| Flowering | June–September |
| Native to Belgium | Yes |
Skullcap: when to prune it?
In March, before the new shoots appear.
What else to prune in those months? March
Skullcap: how to prune it?
- Leave the dead stems all winter: they protect the rhizomes and shelter insects.
- Cut them back to just above the ground in March.
- Take the cuttings away from the pond so the water does not become richer in nutrients.
How much to cut, and how often?
- One pruning period a year: March.
What does it mean for wildlife?
- If you only cut back in March, the old stems stand through the winter: insects overwinter in them and birds eat the seeds.
- As a native plant, it feeds more insects than a non-native species.
Nearby: related pruning guides
This guide is compiled from the Bladwijzer plant profile and pruning calendar.