Skullcap, Baikal (Scutellaria baicalensis) seeds, organic
$4.95 – $20.00
Family: Mint (Lamiaceae)
Hardy to Zones 4 to 8
(Skullcap, Baical; Huang-qin, Scute Root) Herbaceous perennial. Native to the shores of Lake Baikal, Mongolia, Siberia, and the Chihli and Shantung provinces of China. The purple flowers are like schools of dolphin breaking through green waves in a summer sea. The part used in traditional Chinese medicine is the dried root. Traditional usage (TCM): antiallergic, diuretic, hypotensive, antibacterial, antiviral, tranquilizing and fever-reducing, commonly used for treatment of dysentery, hepatitis, staph. Source of flavones baicalin and wogonin. This is one of the best Chinese plants to grow organically in America. Not only is it a very striking bedding plant, bearing one of the nicest flowers available from this catalog, but there is on-going demand for the root, which attains harvestable size after only 2 years. Plant prefers sun and regular garden soils. It is extremely drought-tolerant. Sow seed in early spring. Germ. in ~24 days. Space plants 12 inches apart. Flowers to 12 inches tall. As the plants age they become wider, much like humans in middle age, but unlike humans, the seed they produce becomes increasingly viable the older they get.
Packet contains 30 seeds
1 g contains ~560 seeds
Certified Organically Grown
Jeff –
The Baikal germinated very well for me. It was already warm outside (Zone 7B in June) so I placed the clay pot with the seeds over an A/C vent to keep it cooler. I misted the clay pot to promote evaporative cooling. After two weeks most of the seeds germinated and the seedlings look great.
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bhoffman3 –
Good germination and the plants survived outdoors in the winter in their small pots. I am in coastal Nor Cal in a valley that does freeze in the winter, probably closest to 8b. I am going to transplant my lovely plants which are starting to flower but I wonder if I need to be concerned with gophers eating the taproots? I could put them in containers but would love to have them in the ground if possible/
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Richo Cech –
Hello Bhoffman,
Thanks for writing. We have gophers here too and have seen minimal damage in the Baikal Skullcap. The roots are not sweet so its not a big attraction. You might want to hedge your bets and try some in pots, some in soil. They grow bigger when in the ground.
Richo
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Amy K. Mineral Roots Nursery –
Extremely hardy and resilient plant with blooms true to SMS description!
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Misty –
I bought and grew these seeds over 4 yrs ago and they continue to be prolific bloomers, spreading modestly from the original planting sight. I live in the mountains of western Montana and the flowers survived a winter that saw -45 degrees with 6inches of mulch and not much snow
cover, and as stated they are quite drought tolerant. Definitely one of my favorites in the garden.
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Vanessa –
Hi! Mine just germinated this week and I am wondering if I should bring them inside since we are currently having lows in the 30s at night?
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Richo Cech –
Hi Vanessa,
Thanks for contacting and congratulations! Yes, seedling Baikal Skullcap should be protected from frost. They need warm sun.
Richo
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Question
Christen (verified owner) –
I mistakenly tinctures the aerial parts of this plant this summer, while plant was in bloom. Have I wasted perfectly good organic grain alcohol? Is there no active medicinal constituents in the aerial parts of this plant?
Thanks!
Christen
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Richo Cech –
Hi Christen, The traditional approach is to use the root and discard the aerial parts. Some scientific studies of aerial parts have identified antibiotic constituents but that still doesn’t mean the aerial extract will act the same as the root extract. American Herbal Pharmacopoeia had this to say about it: Skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora) is an extremely important botanical, desperately in need of identity standards. Much of the industry, even seasoned herb suppliers, remain unaware that the potentially hepatotoxic Teucrium (germander) adulterates the skullcap market. We have also found that other domestic species of Scutellaria, including the aerial parts of Chinese skullcap (S. baicalensis), are being sold as “skullcap,” as well as S. galericulata, and S. incana. Fortunately, these other species are similar in activity, and are not considered to present a toxicity concern.
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mary –
One of many medicinal garden surprises from SM! I purchased seed several years ago. It germinated well on a heat mat (~75F) under LED lights. Up-potted the many seedlings once and later transplanted into the border of the medicinal herb garden in northern MN – sandy loam soil, 8 hrs full sun. They survived the first Zone 3 winter and many more to follow (We’re talking -30F to -40F temps!). They are still going strong and produce a beautiful deep blue-purple flowering border every summer. My only complaint is that they are such gorgeous little plants I can’t bring myself to harvest their roots for medicinal purposes.
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Lynn –
I received and planted 3 plants last September. They survived a harsh winter and have grown rapidly this spring into husky, healthy plants.
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Jennifer Pal (verified owner) –
Hi, I have this seed ready for planting this yr and I have your book, Making herbal medicine, this plant is mentioned but only skullcap official has the specific instructions, are there any specific remedy making instructions for the Baical?
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Richo Cech –
hi jennifer, yup, but its going to be awhile before you need them. baical skullcap is harvested in year 2 and ongoing for the ROOT, which is dried, ground up and tinctured at a 1:4 (50A:50W). There, now you have it. richo
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Question
Lynn –
Hi Richo,
I am thrilled by how well my skullcap survived the winter and is growing now (planted last September). No flowers yet. When does baikal skullcap usually bloom?
Thanks!
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Richo Cech –
hi lynn, these are going to bloom this year. richo
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Lynn –
Thanks for responding, Richo! Two days after I asked, my plants sent up multiple spikes of buds, and are now blooming beautifully. Gorgeous.
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Carrie Marshall (verified owner) –
Can these plants grow happily in pots
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Richo Cech –
hello carrie, thanks for writing. yes, they are not particularly tall and i’ve had them in pots for years. they flower young. r
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Deena (verified owner) –
Though this should go without saying, follow Richo’s instructions and you should have great germination rates (I did)! But I’m writing this review because I’ve noticed that the baikal skullcap seedlings I potted in a big tub with chamomile babies seem to be helping the chamomile overcome the transplant shock! These were all planted out at the same time and the chamomile will all do fine eventually, but with the same soil, light, and moisture, it’s clear how much faster the chamomile closest to the baikal skullcap recovered!!! I then noticed that a gaura plant that self-sowed in another (small) container where I had some lateriflora is also KILLIN’ IT!! Though the baikal root is much more muscular (and easier to get a usable harvest from), lateriflora has even higher concentrations of some of the desired phyto chemicals in its roots (you’d just need to harvest a lot more of the relatively dainty lateriflora roots to get it). So anyway- could be a coincidence, but I’d love to hear if others have noticed this??
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Nick –
So is it pointless to try this in a warmer climate zone like 9-10
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Richo Cech –
hi nick, i try everything and never find it pointless. richo
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Kim –
Hey Richo! Question – can this variety’s stem, flower, leaves be used in a tincture?
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Richo Cech –
hi kim, not that I know of. Its the golden-colored root that is used. r
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Christine r –
Will this be in stock soon? I don’t want to miss out
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Richo Cech –
Hi Christine, The plants are in flower, the seeds will follow, hit waitlist, they’ll be listed when available. Richo
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Question
meganmatthers –
how long does germ typically take when started in flats in controlled temps? Just curious because I planted some older (2018) seeds and I’m unsure if they will go, its been just over 10 days
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Diana –
Hi Megan,
Thanks for staying in touch. Germination can be iffy on this one. I started a ton of seed under lights and very few of them germinated. Then I started a packet under normal greenhouse conditions and all of them came up. Maybe avoid too much heat on this one, if ny experiences mean anything. 10 days seems abut right for germination. Could be a bit faster or a bit slower depending on conditions. We think of “skullcap” as a plant that is rhizomatous, likes shade, rich soils and moisture. But Baical Skullcap is TAPROOTED, likes sun, sandy soils, and drought.
Richo
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Richo Cech –
If you click on the photo it will bring you to the monograph that gives the info you are seeking Family: Mint (Lamiaceae)
Hardy to Zones 4 to 8
(Skullcap, Baical; Huang-qin) Herbaceous perennial. Native to the shores of Lake Baikal, Mongolia, Siberia, and the Chihli and Shantung provinces of China. The purple flowers are like schools of dolphin breaking through green waves in a summer sea. The part used in traditional Chinese medicine is the dried root. Traditional usage (TCM): antiallergic, diuretic, hypotensive, antibacterial, antiviral, tranquilizing and fever-reducing, commonly used for treatment of dysentery, hepatitis, staph. Source of flavones baicalin and wogonin. This is one of the best Chinese plants to grow organically in America. Not only is it a very striking bedding plant, bearing one of the nicest flowers available from this catalog, but there is on-going demand for the root, which attains harvestable size after only 2 years. Plant prefers sun and regular garden soils. It is extremely drought-tolerant. Sow seed in early spring. Germ. in ~24 days. Space plants 12 inches apart. Flowers to 12 inches tall. As the plants age they become wider, much like humans in middle age, but unlike humans, the seed they produce becomes increasingly viable the older they get.
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BA (verified owner) –
Did an experiment and started one package of Biacal in starter trays and later one package sown directly into garden…BOTH exceeded my expectations on germination and growth! Many thanks!
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