Skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora) is a branching perennial herb in the Lamiaceae family native to North America. It bears small opposite leaves and tiny blue to violet flowers along the upper stems, and the aerial parts are the portion most commonly harvested for traditional herbal use.
In North American herbal traditions, skullcap became known as a gentle herb often prepared as tea or tincture. Its mild character and affinity for being used fresh or dried helped make it a familiar part of Western herb practice.
