Heart-Leaved Skullcap (Scutellaria Ovata)

Heart-Leaved Skullcap

Features and Characteristics

Scutellaria ovata, commonly called heart-leaved skullcap, is a pubescent mint family member that features snapdragon-like, tubular, two-lipped, blue-purple flowers (with whitish lower lips) that bloom from May to September in branched terminal racemes (to 6” long) atop square pubescent stems clad with ovate, crenate-serrate, rugose, heart-shaped green leaves (to 4” long). Plants typically grow from 16-24” tall. This skullcap is native from Maryland to Kansas south to Tennessee, Texas and Mexico. In Missouri, it is primarily found in rocky open woods, glades, rocky ledges and bluff escarpments throughout much of southern and central part of the State. (Steyermark).

Genus name comes from the Latin word scutella meaning a small dish or saucer in reference to the shape of the persistent calyx after the flowers fade.

Specific epithet means egg-shaped for the leaves.

Care and Maintenance

Grow in dry to medium, well-drained soils in full sun. Tolerates drought. Spreads by rhizomes. Easily grown from seed and will self-seed in the garden. Plants may go dormant after bloom in hot dry summer weather.

Heart-Leaved Skullcap (Scutellaria Ovata) Requirements

Hardiness zone	4 - 9
Sun light	Full Sun
Water	Dry To Medium
Maintenance	Low

Common Problems

No serious insect or disease problems. Powdery mildew and leaf spot may occur. Watch for aphids.

Uses

Borders, meadows, cottage gardens, native plant gardens, open woodland areas and naturalized areas.

Heart-Leaved Skullcap (Scutellaria Ovata) Details

Common name	Heart-Leaved Skullcap
Botanical name	Scutellaria Ovata
Plant type	Herbaceous Perennial
Family	Lamiaceae
Hardiness zone	4 - 9
Water	Dry To Medium
Maintenance	Low
Flower color	Blue - Purple
Flowering period	May - September
Height	1 - 2 Ft.
Width	0.75 To 1.50 Feet