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Heartleaf Skullcap

Scutellaria ovata

Other common name(s):

Heart-leaf Skullcap

Family:

Lamiaceae (Mint Family)

Plant Ecoregion Distribution Map

East Central Texas Plains, Edwards Plateau, Gulf Coast Prairies and Marshes, Texas Blackland Prairies, Western Gulf Coastal Plain
Floodplains and Low Terraces2, Northern Post Oak Savanna, San Antonio Prairie
Balcones Canyonlands, Edwards Plateau Woodland, Llano Uplift
Floodplains and Low Terraces4, Mid-Coast Barrier Islands and Coastal Marshes, Northern Humid Gulf Coastal Prairies, Texas-Louisiana Coastal Marshes
Floodplains and Low Terraces1, Northern Blackland Prairie
Floodplains and Low Terraces3, Tertiary Uplands

Plant Characteristics

Growth Form

Herbaceous

Height

1
to
2
ft.

Spread

1
to
1.5
ft.

Leaf Retention

Semi Evergreen

Lifespan

Perennial

Habitat and Care Requirements

Soil Type(s)

Loam, Clay, Rocky, Limestone, Shallow, Moist

Light Requirement

Shade

Water Requirement

Low

Native Habitat

Woodland

Bloom and Attraction

Bloom Color

Blue, Purple

Bloom Season

Spring

Seasonal Interest

Nectar

Wildlife Benefit

Butterflies, Hummingbirds

Maintenance

Great foliage plant in cooler months. May be dormant in hottest months. It colonizes by underground, fleshy roots. Easily re-seeds. Propagation: Seed, Clump division.

Comments

Blooms April-July. The showy blue flowers bloom on spikes In winter, heartleaf skullcap displays evergreen foliage. Nectar source for butterflies and hummingbirds.

References

1) Griffith, Bryce, Omernick & Rodgers (2007). Ecoregions of Texas. 2) https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=32772#null, 3) https://portal.torcherbaria.org/portal/taxa/index.php?taxon=Scutellaria+ovata&formsubmit=Search+Terms, 4) http://bonap.net/TDC/Image/Map?taxonType=Species&taxonId=13698&locationType=County&mapType=Normal, 5) https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=SCOV, 6) Native and Adapted Landscape Plants, City of Austin and Texas A&M, 2014.

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