This tidy little native perennial is an excellent choice for Central Texas gardens. Its evergreen mounding form only gets 6 to 10 inches tall, so it looks right at home as a filler tucked into small bare spots in well-drained garden beds.

It’s a good nectar plant, covered with light blue to violet flowers from March through July.

Full sun is best, but it can take bright shade. Purple skullcap is a low-water-use plant, which is excellent if your soil isn’t too heavy. It can take a little extra moisture but will struggle if the roots are kept wet for long periods.

There are many native skull caps and pink skullcaps (Scutellaria suffrutescens) native to Mexico.