California Poppy (Eschscholzia californica) vs Skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora)

California Poppy (Eschscholzia californica)

Skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora)

About

California poppy (Eschscholzia californica) is an annual or short-lived perennial with finely divided leaves and vibrant orange, yellow, pink, or red blossoms. It is related to the opium poppy.

Skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora) is a perennial, up to about 2 ft (60 cm), with branching stems, lanceolate leaves, and small pink to blue flowers.

Safety & precautions

Pregnancy: Not recommended unless supervised by a qualified professional. Children & Sensitive Individuals: Ask a qualified professional before giving it to children.

Liver injury: LiverTox reports that skullcap has been named as a possible cause in rare cases of liver injury, at least one ending in acute liver failure. Many cases involved multi-herb products, and some products turned out to be adulterated with germander, an herb LiverTox identifies as a cause of liver injury. Buy only from reputable sources and stop if you notice yellowing skin or eyes or dark urine. Professional Guidance: High doses or combining with other sedatives warrant caution.

Safety text above is printed in full and is never abbreviated. For each plant’s complete precautions, drug and food interactions and preparation notes, open its own page - both are free.