Skullcap From Seed – Chill Then Surface-Sow

Grow skullcap from seed by chilling the seed about 60 days cold and moist, then sowing it on the surface. This is hoary skullcap, Scutellaria incana, not the wetland tea herb.

Chill the seed for 60 days, then surface-sow

Hoary skullcap seed needs a winter. Mix it with a little moist sand or vermiculite, seal the bag, and refrigerate it about 60 days, or sow it on the surface in a pot outdoors in late fall and leave it through winter. [1] After the chill, spread the seed on moist mix and cover it very lightly. The seed is small and wants light. Keep that surface just moist. Sprouts are slow and uneven. [2] See How to Grow Skullcap for the grown plant. Collect seed from the helmet-shaped calyx in early fall when the nutlets are dark. Do not sow a packet labeled American skullcap or mad-dog skullcap if you want this taller garden clump. [3]

1. Collect seed in early fall when the nutlets are dark, or buy a packet labeled Scutellaria incana.
2. Chill it about 60 days cold and moist, or sow it on the surface outdoors in late fall.
3. Press the seed onto moist mix and cover it very lightly, then keep the surface just moist.
4. Wait for irregular sprouts, then grow the seedlings on until they can take a drained bed in sun or part shade.

Divide a clump in spring or fall

If you already have a garden clump, you can split it in spring as new shoots show, or in fall, instead of waiting on seed. Lift the clump, cut or pull it so each piece has shoots and roots, and replant at once at the same depth, in drained sun or part shade, about 18 inches apart. [4] Water the divisions in, and keep them just moist while they settle. Do not divide a small plant, and do not take stem cuttings as the main method for this clump.

1. Wait until spring as new shoots show, or until fall, on a clump that can spare a piece.
2. Lift the clump and split it so each piece has shoots and roots.
3. Replant at once at the same depth, about 18 inches apart, in soil that drains.
4. Water it in, and keep the soil just moist while the new piece settles.

If the seed never comes up, it probably missed the winter chill, or the surface dried out. Next time give it 60 cold, moist days and keep the mix just moist.