[3] S. incana grows to about 1 m (3 ft) tall with stems that are unbranched (or branched only near the top) and have short, dense, gray hairs.

[4][5] Purplish blue flowers occur in a dense raceme measuring about 15 cm (6 in) long at or near the end of the stem.

[4][2] The genus name Scutellariais from the Latin word scutella, small dish or saucer, referring to shape of the persistent calyx after the flowers fade.

[6] The plant is native in the United States from Texas to the west, Florida to the south, Wisconsin to the north, and New York to the east.

[1] It can be found in mesic to mesic-dry, partially shady habitats, including upland forests, rocky woodland slopes, thinly wooded bluffs, rocky slopes along rivers, upland meadows in wooded areas, thickets, and along roadsides in woodlands.