Skullcap
Scutellaria lateriflora
Medicinal Plants Difficulty: Moderate
📖 About this plant
Skullcap is a gentle nervine herb valued for its calming effect on the nervous system, making it a traditional remedy for anxiety, insomnia, and tension headaches. Its small blue to purple hooded flowers bloom along one side of the stem.
🧑🌾 Care requirements
☀️
Light
Partial shade to full sun (4-6 hrs)
💧
Water
Every 2-3 days
💨
Humidity
Moderate to high (50-70%)
🌡️
Temperature
15-25°C
🪴
Soil
Moist, rich, well-draining loam with partial shade; pH 6.0-7.0
🧪
Fertilizer
Compost top-dressing in spring; balanced liquid fertilizer monthly during growth
🌐 Common Names
HI
Hindi
स्कलकैप
BN
Bengali
স্কালক্যাপ
MR
Marathi
स्कलकॅप
TE
Telugu
స్కల్కాప్
TA
Tamil
ஸ்கல்கேப்
GU
Gujarati
સ્કલકેપ
UR
Urdu
سکل کیپ
KN
Kannada
ಸ್ಕಲ್ಕಾಪ್
OR
Odia
ସ୍କଲକାପ୍
ML
Malayalam
സ്കൾകാപ്
PA
Punjabi
ਸਕੱਲਕੈਪ
AS
Assamese
স্কালকাপ
📋 Plant facts
- 🌍 Origin
- North America, Europe
- 📏 Max height
- 30-90 cm
- 📐 Spread
- 30-45 cm
- 🕰️ Bloom time
- Summer - Fall
- 🎨 Bloom color
- Blue, Purple
- 🍃 Foliage color
- Green
- ⏳ Lifespan
- Perennial
- 📈 Growth rate
- Moderate
- ☠️ Toxicity
- Non-toxic at therapeutic doses; use with caution — some commercial products mislabeled with germander
- 🌱 Propagation
- Seed sowing in spring (requires light for germination); stem cuttings; division
🛡️ Health & Safety
🐾 Pet safe
✅ Non-toxic
Non-toxic at therapeutic doses; use with caution — some commercial products mislabeled with germander
Common issues
- Powdery mildew
- Root rot from overwatering
- Spider mites
- Aphids
💡 Care tips
- Used in traditional medicine as a mild sedative and nerve tonic
- Small blue hooded flowers resemble medieval skullcaps
- Grow in consistently moist rich soil for best results
- Harvest aerial parts when in full bloom for maximum potency
🪴 Add to My Plants
One click — added instantly. Watering every 3 days, fertilizing every 30 days.
