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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

Part Shade, Shade

Water Requirement

Low, Medium

Native Habitat

Woodland

Bloom and Attraction

Bloom Color

Blue, Purple

Bloom Season

Spring, Summer

Seasonal Interest

Nectar, Pollen

Wildlife Benefit

Butterflies, Hummingbirds, Bees

Maintenance

Low maintenance, drought tolerant, once established. Great foliage plant in cooler months. May be dormant in hottest months. It colonizes by rhizomes.. Easily re-seeds. Good for borders, meadows, cottage gardens, native plant gardens, open woodland areas and naturalized areas. Oils produced by plant may repel deer. Propagation: Seed, Clump division.

Comments

Blooms April-July. Square, pubescent stems with ova., serrated, heart-shaped green leaves. The showy blue, snapdragon like flowers bloom on spikes. In winter, heartleaf skullcap displays evergreen foliage. Nectar source for butterflies and hummingbirds. (to 4” long). Plant

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. 7) https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=281522&isprofile=0&, 8) https://www.prairiemoon.com/scutellaria-ovata-heart-leaved-skullcap

Get in Touch

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Contact a local Chapter

State Office Phone: 830.997.9272

State Office Address:
Native Plant Society of Texas
PO Box 3017
Fredericksburg, TX 78624

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