Heartleaf Skullcap (Scutellaria ovata)
I have been keeping an eye on the heartleaf skullcap all season waiting for it to flower, which I read is the best time to harvest it. It’s been popping up on the Wildflowers of Arkansas Facebook page for a week or so now, so we plan on heading out this afternoon to see what we can find. Though Scutellaria lateriflora is the one mentioned most often in the literature, it was common for both Native Americans and settlers to use whichever skullcaps were in their region interchangeably. Below, I have quoted Rewild Alabama about ovata specifically and linked to another source below that, which refers to ovata as medicinal but gives no further information. Below these are more generic resources on skullcaps.
The first photo is alongside Lake Dardanelle and the second is later in the spring in the Ouachitas.
From Rewild Alabama Facebook page:
Heartleaf skullcap is known for its distinctive heart-shaped leaves and vibrant blue to violet flowers. It thrives in woodland settings, shaded gardens, and along stream banks, making it a versatile addition to both natural and cultivated landscapes.
This plant not only enhances aesthetic appeal but also offers significant ecological and wildlife benefits:
Its flowers are a rich nectar source for various pollinators, including bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.
It is a favorite of bumblebees and serves as a great nectar source in late winter and early spring for these threatened friends.
Additionally, the flowers are cross-pollinated by long-tongued bees, especially Anthophorine bees. Short-tongued bees and Syrphid flies may also visit the flowers, although they are too small to be effective pollinators.
The leaves of this species serve as a food source for several insect species including the Skeletonizing leaf beetle (Phyllobrotica limbata), the Shiny Flea Beetle (Asphaera lustrans), Skullcap Skeletonizer Moth (Prochoreutis inflatella) larvae, and Caloptilia scutellariella moth larvae.
This species has long-standing medicinal uses as well. Heartleaf skullcap is considered a nervine herb, which means it supports the nervous system. It has been traditionally used by Native Americans, early settlers, and folk herbalists to help alleviate stress, anxiety, and nervous tension.
Secondary source:
https://medivetus.com/botanic/?s=Scutellaria+ovata
Skullcaps more generally:
A Modern Herbal, Volumes 1 & 2 : Margaret Grieve : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive
Encyclopedia Of Herbal Medicine : The Definitive Home Reference Guide to 550 Key Herbs with all their Uses as Remedies for Common Ailments (
