Scullcap
Scutellaria lateriflora
Uses: Medicinal
Duration: Perennial (hardy in zones 3-8)
When to Sow: Spring/Late Summer/Early Fall
Ease of Germination: Easy
Named for its purple flowers resemblance to a medieval helmet, scullcap is one of the most important herbs for calming the nerves; used by the Cherokee Native Americans as a female reproductive tonic and as a treatment for seizures by early herbalists. It is used today to treat premenstrual tension, nervous exhaustion as well as anxiety by stimulating GABA (neuro-inhibitory) receptors. Can be made into a tea, tincture or powder. Germination tends to be more successful when stratified for a week or so. Loves full sun to partial shade in fertile soil.