Skullcap: identifying the species, growing and making tea

Skullcap is one of those names that causes a lot of confusion. In the Netherlands people think of common skullcap, a wild waterside plant with little blue flowers. In the herb trade, "skullcap" usually means American skullcap, a different species from the same genus. In this guide you'll learn how to tell the species apart, how to grow skullcap from seed, how to harvest and dry it, and how to make tea from it.

What is skullcap?

Skullcap is the common name for the genus Scutellaria, part of the mint family (Lamiaceae). Like mint and lemon balm, skullcaps have a square stem and leaves that always grow in opposite pairs. The Latin name comes from scutella, a small dish. Look at the calyx after flowering and you'll see why: there's a raised ridge on it, as if a tiny cap is sitting on top. That's also where the English name skullcap comes from.

The three best-known species

	Common skullcap	American skullcap	Baikal skullcap
Botanical name	Scutellaria galericulata	Scutellaria lateriflora	Scutellaria baicalensis
Origin	Europe, also wild in the Netherlands	North America	East Asia
Habitat	Banks, ditches, marshes	Damp woodland edges and wet meadows	Dry, sunny slopes
Flower	Blue-violet, in pairs at the leaf joints	Small and blue, in one-sided spikes along the side of the stem	Blue-purple, in spikes at the top
Part used	Flowering aerial parts	Flowering aerial parts, the "skullcap" herb in the trade	Root
Height	20 to 50 cm	30 to 80 cm	30 to 60 cm

Lateriflora means "side-flowering": the flowers of American skullcap all sit on one side of a side branch. In common skullcap they grow in pairs at the leaf joints, spread along the stem. At Dutch-Smart you'll find both species: the skullcap seeds (Scutellaria galericulata) are common skullcap, the dried Skullcap 50 grams is American skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora).

What's in it?

Skullcaps are rich in flavonoids such as baicalin, baicalein, scutellarin and wogonin. How much of each a plant contains varies by species and plant part: in Baikal skullcap they're mainly in the root, in American skullcap in the leaves and flowers. Skullcap has traditionally been drunk as an herbal tea, for example during quiet moments and meditation. No health claims have been approved for skullcap in the EU, so we don't promise any effects either.

Which form should you choose?

Product	Species	Form	Use
Skullcap 50 grams	American skullcap (S. lateriflora)	Dried herb	Tea, 1 to 2 teaspoons per cup
Happy Skullcap alkaloid extract	Skullcap	Liquid, concentrated	Start with 5 to 10 drops, build up slowly
Skullcap seeds 0.1 gram	Common skullcap (S. galericulata)	Seed	Grow your own by a pond or in a bog garden

Growing common skullcap from seed

Common skullcap is a native, hardy perennial and a great addition to any pond edge. It attracts bees and bumblebees and slowly spreads through underground runners. The seed germinates better after a short cold spell.

1. Mix the seeds with three times as much lightly moistened vermiculite in a sealed bag and put it in the fridge for a week.
2. Then sow indoors, in March or April, in a tray of moist seed compost. Scatter the seeds thinly and press them in lightly.
3. Put the tray somewhere bright at room temperature and keep the soil moist at all times. After about two weeks the seeds germinate.
4. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots once they have a few true leaves.
5. Plant them outside after the last night frost, about 30 centimetres apart.

The right spot

Common skullcap likes wet feet. The best spot is a pond edge, a bog garden or a damp border, in sun or partial shade. At the water's edge, a few centimetres of water can stand above the roots. On dry soil it grows poorly. If you want to keep it in a pot, stand the pot in a saucer that you always keep topped up with water.

American skullcap in your garden

American skullcap has similar needs: moist, humus-rich soil and partial shade. It's hardy as well and comes back every year. Want to be sure which species you're growing? Look at the flowers in summer. One-sided spikes on side branches means lateriflora, flowers in pairs at the leaf joints means galericulata.

Harvesting and drying

1. Harvest when the plant is in full bloom, usually in June or July.
2. Cut the stems on a dry morning and leave about 8 centimetres standing, so the plant grows back.
3. Tie the stems in small bunches and hang them upside down somewhere dark and airy.
4. Once the herb rustles dry, strip the flowers and leaves from the stems and store them in a dark, airtight jar.

Making skullcap tea in 5 steps

1. Take 1 to 2 teaspoons of dried skullcap per cup.
2. Pour a cup of boiling water over it, about 250 ml.
3. Cover the cup and let it steep for 5 to 10 minutes.
4. Strain out the herb. The taste is mild, herbal and slightly bitter.
5. Nice with a teaspoon of honey, or blended with a milder herb such as lemon balm or chamomile.

No plants of your own? With Skullcap 50 grams you can make tea straight away. You'll find more herbs for a quiet moment among our relaxing herbs and in the tea category.

Safety

Skullcap is a mild herb, but keep these points in mind:

• Buy from a reliable source: in the past, skullcap abroad has been adulterated with germander (Teucrium), a plant that can damage the liver. When picking in the wild, only pick what you're sure of.
• Sleeping pills, sedatives and alcohol: check with your doctor or pharmacist first if you use these.
• Pregnant or breastfeeding: there's too little research. Don't use it.
• Liver: if you have liver problems, or develop stomach pain, yellowing skin or dark urine, stop and contact your doctor.
• Extracts: these are stronger than tea. Follow the packaging and build up slowly.

Common mistakes

• Mixing up common and American skullcap: they're different species with different habitats. Look at the flowers and read the label.
• Planting common skullcap in dry soil: this waterside plant dries out fast. Choose a wet spot or a bog garden.
• Sowing without a cold spell: the seed then germinates unevenly and sometimes barely at all. A week in the fridge helps.
• Harvesting too late: after flowering the plant puts its energy into seed. Harvest in full bloom.
• Cutting too short: leave about 8 centimetres standing and you'll get a second flush.
• Storing the dried herb in the light: it loses colour and aroma. Use a dark jar.

Frequently asked questions

Is skullcap the same as common skullcap?

Not always. Skullcap is the English name for the whole Scutellaria genus. In the herb trade it usually refers to American skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora). Common skullcap (Scutellaria galericulata) is the species that grows wild in the Netherlands.

Where does common skullcap grow?

Along ditch banks, riverbanks, in marshes and in wet grassland, throughout Europe. It flowers from June into September.

Is skullcap hardy?

Yes. Both common and American skullcap die back above ground in winter and sprout again in spring.

How long should skullcap tea steep?

Let it steep covered for 5 to 10 minutes, using 1 to 2 teaspoons of dried herb per 250 ml cup.

Is skullcap legal?

Yes. In the Netherlands skullcap is freely available as a herb, extract and seed.

Where can I buy skullcap?

You'll find dried Skullcap (American skullcap) among the relaxing herbs, the common skullcap seeds in growing seeds, and the Happy Skullcap extract in liquid alkaloid extracts.

Sources: Wikipedia (NL), Blauw glidkruid, Flora van Nederland, Blauw glidkruid, American Botanical Council via NutraIngredients, skullcap adulterated with germander.