Most members of this genus make clumps of leaves, often aromatic, from which the flower stems ascend. The flowers are in short spikes, each one tubular, with two lips and a hood. The plants tend to like sunny places and well-drained soil.

Scutellaria pontica is an easy rock garden plant, making a mat of foliage with short stems of pink or reddish pink flower, tubular and hooded - presumably accounting for the common name, skullcap.