Scutellaria bolanderi subsp. bolanderi
Photo: parent species Scutellaria bolanderi · (c) joergmlpts, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Lamiaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Scutellaria bolanderi subsp. bolanderi is a native California herb in the Lamiaceae family, recognized by leaf proportions and flower size.
Bolander's skullcap is a California native perennial found in the Sierra Nevada and Santa Clara County regions in gravelly soils, stream banks, and oak or pine woodland at elevations of 100 to 1,500 meters. Flowering from June to July, this plant produces small blue to purple flowers with corollas 15 to 19 millimeters long. Growing with slender stems 10 to 30 centimeters tall, it forms compact clusters in woodland understories. Its leaves are distinctive, with blade lengths approximately one to two times their width, creating a compact, dense foliage pattern. The plant thrives in well-drained gravelly soils, often nestled among oak and pine woodland habitats.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 5 sympatric species; key features are leaf proportions and flower size
Habitat and range
Habitat: Gravelly soils, stream banks, oak or pine woodland
Elevation: 100-1500 m
California counties: Kern, Tulare, Tuolumne, Fresno, Mariposa, Riverside, Amador, Calaveras, Yuba, Madera, Santa Clara, Sierra, Plumas
Bloom period
Scutellaria bolanderi subsp. bolanderi blooms Jun-Jul.
How to tell it apart
vs Salvia: Salvia has only 2 stamens with a see-saw lever connective and often aromatic foliage; Scutellaria has 4 stamens and a smooth rounded crest (the 'skullcap') on top of the calyx.; vs Stachys: Stachys is hairy and aromatic with flowers in whorled clusters above a 5-toothed bell calyx; Scutellaria bears flowers in axillary pairs and a 2-lipped calyx with a distinctive dorsal hump.; vs Prunella: Prunella packs its flowers into a dense terminal head with leafy bracts and a flat-topped calyx; Scutellaria has paired axillary flowers and a crested, lidded calyx.; vs Monardella: Monardella is strongly aromatic with flowers in dense terminal heads; Scutellaria is scarcely aromatic with solitary paired flowers and the crested calyx.; vs Marrubium: Horehound has wrinkled woolly leaves and a 10-toothed hooked calyx in dense whorls; Scutellaria has the smooth 2-lipped crested calyx and paired flowers.
Frequently asked questions
Is Scutellaria bolanderi subsp. bolanderi native to California?
Yes. Scutellaria bolanderi subsp. bolanderi is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Scutellaria bolanderi subsp. bolanderi bloom?
Scutellaria bolanderi subsp. bolanderi blooms Jun-Jul.
Where in California does Scutellaria bolanderi subsp. bolanderi grow?
Scutellaria bolanderi subsp. bolanderi occurs in Kern, Tulare, Tuolumne, Fresno, Mariposa, Riverside, Amador, Calaveras and other counties, at elevations of 100-1500 m.
What plant family does Scutellaria bolanderi subsp. bolanderi belong to?
Scutellaria bolanderi subsp. bolanderi is in the Lamiaceae family, genus Scutellaria.
What habitat does Scutellaria bolanderi subsp. bolanderi grow in?
Scutellaria bolanderi subsp. bolanderi grows in Gravelly soils, stream banks, oak or pine woodland.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.