Helmet Flower
Scutellaria integrifolia
Last reviewed: June 2026
Scutellaria integrifolia (Helmet Flower) is a native wildflower found across the eastern United States from Massachusetts to Florida and west to Texas. This blue-flowered forb blooms from June through August and attracts bees and butterflies.
Light
part sun
Water
medium
Size
12"–24" H × 8"–15" W
Bloom
Jun, Jul, Aug
Native to
AL, CT, FL, GA and 6 more states
Pollinators
bees, butterflies
Helmet flower is a compact native perennial that produces spikes of small blue to purple tubular flowers from June through August. This well-behaved plant maintains a tidy, clumping growth habit and works well in partially sunny gardens with average moisture.
Growing Helmet Flower
Grow Helmet Flower in part sun and medium water. Mature plants reach 12 to 24 inches tall and spread 8 to 15 inches wide. Expect low maintenance to keep it looking intentional in a front yard.
In an HOA neighborhood
Helmet Flower is an HOA-friendly choice. Maintenance level: low. Tidiness: 4 out of 5.
Works well in: front yard, foundation, street edge, mid zone.
Wildlife value
The tubular flowers are particularly attractive to native bees and butterflies during the summer blooming period. Its compact size makes it useful for pollinator gardens in smaller spaces.
Common questions
- When does Scutellaria integrifolia bloom?
- Helmet Flower typically blooms from June through August, producing small blue flowers that attract various pollinators.
- What pollinators visit Scutellaria integrifolia?
- Bees and butterflies are the primary pollinators of Helmet Flower, drawn to its summer blooms for nectar.
- Where is Scutellaria integrifolia native?
- This species is native to Alabama, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Massachusetts, New York, Ohio, Tennessee, and Texas.
- What growing conditions does Helmet Flower prefer?
- Scutellaria integrifolia tolerates a range of light conditions from full sun to partial shade and adapts to various moisture levels from wet to dry soils.
- Is Helmet Flower HOA-friendly?
- Helmet Flower is generally an HOA-friendly choice in the right placement, with low maintenance.
Native range data from the USDA PLANTS Database and regional native plant society lists. Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
Ready to grow Helmet Flower? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.
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