No, these are the fleshy roots of Heartleaf Skullcap, Scutellaria ovata.
Heartleaf Skullcap is a Texas perennial (and also native to the eastern half of the U.S. according to USDA Plants Database) with heart shaped leaves. The leaves are a little fuzzy which gives them a slightly silver or blue-green appearance. In late spring and early summer, Heartleaf Skullcap is covered in purple flowers.
Most recommend growing Heartleaf Skullcap in part shade to full shade, but I have had seedlings sprout and grow in full sun with no problems. I assume the fleshy roots are good for water conservation as the plant does not seem to require any additional watering in my garden. Heartleaf Skullcap does spread by seed and roots. It is fairly easy to remove unwanted plants if they spread where they are not wanted.
The plants grow a couple of feet high and are not particularly attractive by mid-July. I have read that the plants go dormant in the summer and die to the ground. I have not noticed this with my plants because I normally cut the stems back to tidy the plants and remove the seeds before they fall to the ground.
And now, Glenn Miller's A String of Pearls from 1942.
So what did you do with the rest of the plant?
ReplyDeleteOr should I not ask. RIP?
David/:0)
David, the rest of the plants (and roots after I took the photo) were bagged up and placed on the curb so they could be made into Texas Pure compost. It is all for the better good. I thin my plants so they can be converted to compost and help other gardeners.
DeleteLovely plant...very charming (and the fact that it's tough is a definite bonus)! I have the same issue with Columbine...they just look awful after they bloom...so I just chop them to the ground and hope they'll produce a new crop of foliage.
ReplyDeleteMy columbine look pretty sad right now too. In fact, most of my plants look pretty sad right now. It is the time of the summer dormancy in Texas. I am jealous of all of the lush growth and flowers in your garden.
DeleteNice tutorial, I planted this in the early spring and it has disappeared. I had read it goes dormant in summer but did not know just how it would grow or spread.
ReplyDeleteI'll have to wait for cooler weather to see if it returns now.
I bet yours will come back, Shirley. It is a tough plant. I can't remember for sure, but I think it forms a rosette in the fall.
DeleteSo glad you showed us the "string of pearls"! I put in a heartleaf skullcap last spring and it did amazingly well. Now I won't accidentally pull up any of its "pearls" when weeding or clearing out the garden.
ReplyDeleteGaia Gardener, the pearls are had to avoid when you are digging around the plants. They seem to form just under the surface of the soil. The first time I saw them, I was not sure what they were. It took pulling up a plant or two before I realized that they were part of the roots. Good luck with your plants.
DeleteYour Blog and your work are very inspiring. Thanks for sharing it with everyone.
ReplyDeleteHeartleaf Skullcap is a favorite of mine. It can be difficult to find at a garden center. Your garden is beautiful. Would love to have you as my neighbor. I probably wouldn't get anything done because I would be too busy staring at your yard;)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comments Randy and Steph. I have not posted any pictures of the garden lately because it is not at its best. It is in its summer dormancy period. I can't wait for rain, cooler temperatures, and a little more life in the garden.
ReplyDeleteSteph, Heartleaf Skullcap may be hard to find in garden centers, but once you plant it in your garden, I think you will always have some. It is a very tough plant. It is a great pass along plant too.