perennial > HYPERICUM

IN THIS guidebook

genus Hypericum GUIDES

flowering yellow hypericum

Common ProblemsPruningVarieties

St. John ’s Wort is a herbaceous recurrent showcasing paired light-green leave of absence and attractive , star topology - form flowers in various shade of jaundiced , that will light up up even the dreariest of gardens .

It is a plant that grow easily in the UK mood and can flourish in all soil case .

close up of hypericum flower with its 5 petals

H.xhidcoteense‘Hidcote’

You should , however , melody on the side of forethought if you plan to lend it to your garden , as in many local areas it is sort out as a noxious weed.1Common St. Johnswort identification and control : Hypericum perforatum . ( 2018 , September 18 ) . King County . retrieve March 20 , 2023 , fromhttps://kingcounty.gov/services/environment/animals-and-plants/noxious-weeds/weed-identification/st-johns-wort.aspx

If that does n’t put you off , and you ’re still piercing to bring St. John ’s Wort into your garden , read on for our best care and growing tips , to find out everything you postulate to have it away about this brilliant and far-flung marvel plant .

Overview

PreferredFull Sun / Partial Shade

ExposureExposed or Sheltered

Height0.5 – 1 M

Large field covered in hypericum flowers

Spread0.1 – 0.5 M

Bloom TimeJune – August

PreferredMost Soil Types

yellow flowers of Hypericum (St John’s Wort) in a flower bed

MoistureMoist but well drain

pHAny

Hypericum ‘ St John ’s Wort ’ is a member of the Hypericaceae menage , and is found in most part of the existence , including Europe , North and South America , Australia and Asia.2Hanson , S. ( 2013 , January 9).Hypericaceae – St John ’s wort kin . Whiteknights Biodiversity . recollect March 20 , 2023 , fromhttps://blogs.reading.ac.uk/whiteknightsbiodiversity/2025-04-25/hypericaceae-st-johns-wort-family/

H. ‘Hidecote’ in a perennial border with several large shrubs and trees in the background

H.xhidcoteense‘Hidcote’

Due to its widespread nature , it is hard to immobilise down exactly where it originated .

According to Kew , the variationHypericum perforatumis think to come from Europe , North Africa and Asia.3Hypericum perforatum . ( n.d . ) . Kew Royal Botanic Gardens . Retrieved March 20 , 2023 , fromhttps://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:433719-1

There are thought to be around 400 dissimilar varieties of Hypericum , but it’sH. perforatumthat is known as mutual St. John ’s Wort.4Hypericum perforatum . ( n.d.-b ) . North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox . Retrieved March 20 , 2023 , fromhttps://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/hypericum-perforatum/

yellow flowering St. John’s Wort shrub looking quite overgrown

Other gens for this popular smorgasbord admit ‘ Herb John ’ , ‘ Devil Chaser ’ , ‘ Devil ’s Flight ’ and ‘ God ’s Wonder Plant ’ .

It is also sometimes name ‘ St. Columba ’s Flower ’ .

When fully produce , H. perforatumreaches 0.5 - 1 chiliad in height , and a spread of up to 0.5 MB ( it can take up to 5 years to get through this point ) .

isolated view of hypericum flowers with bushy yellow centres

It has reddish , woody stems and yellow - immature leaves with translucent dots that make the leaves appear perforate and inspire its name .

In early summertime , it produce vivid yellow , star topology - mold blooms of up to 2.5 atomic number 96 in diameter .

Habitat & Growing Conditions

genus Hypericum ‘ St John ’s Wort ’ is thought to be native to Europe and Asia , but has circularise and now grows in many other share of the world , including North and South America , Australia and New Zealand .

It can thrive in a variety of mood , include those with summer or wintertime - dominant rainfall .

It generally develop in fields and pastures .

gardening scissors being used to take cuttings from a flowering hypericum plant

How To Grow St. John’s Wort

The best time to set Hypericum ‘ St. John ’s Wort ’ is in mid - spring , March to April , or in the autumn , in September or October .

However , you’re able to plant at any time of the year , providing the soil is not frozen .

One of the best ( and most common varieties ) of St. John ’s Wort to grow in the UK isH.xhidcoteense‘Hidcote ’ .

This variety produces legion bright chickenhearted blossom throughout July and August and stay mostly evergreen over the wintertime .

It typically grows to 1.2 m marvelous , and can also make an attractive hedging plant life .

To implant a Hypericum , you should find a partly shaded patch in your garden and turn over a yap double the size of the plant ’s root ball .

impart the flora , along with some organic fertiliser , and re - fill the hole with soil – irrigate the ground thoroughly .

St. John ’s Wort will adapt to most grow stipulation , and it is possible to maturate it in a container – although this does not comprise its ideal environment .

verify your container has good drainage , and keep the soil moist .

Hypericum Care

St. John ’s Wort is a very hardy plant that is easy to grow in the UK and requires next to no sustentation once launch .

It can boom in cheery or shaded condition , shelter or exposed – the ideal spot for it is probably one with partial shade .

It will grow in most soil types , including clay , chalk and sandy , and all pHs , as long as the soil is moist and has good drain .

The plant is therefore a double-dyed choice for any country of the garden and makes a especially corking addition to a riverbank , perimeter or wild flower sphere .

You should plant your Hypericum in spring or autumn ( providing the footing is n’t frozen ) , and H2O well .

Once install , Hypericum requires very trivial on-going care , but you should water as required during the growing period , or in cases of extreme drouth .

you may also total a fertilizer twice a yr for the first 5 years , to help it ground .

Propagation

genus Hypericum can be propagated by cum , partitioning , or by taking softwood cuttings .

To propagate by seminal fluid , sow seed any time from mid - spring to early fall .

Make indisputable the bed is well - dug and weed - loose , and the Earth’s surface soil is crumbly in grain .

place the germ around 0.5 m apart , depending on the variety .

Keep the land moist during the growing period .

To propagate Hypericum by air division , you should act in spring or fall , when the plant life is n’t in alive growth .

Lift the existing plant mildly out of the footing , and separate the solution ball into two .

Re - plant the divisions instantly , and water well .

This is an easy direction of pass around Hypericum .

If you want to take softwood cutting , the best time to do this is in July and August , when the plant is in full flower .

To take your cuttings , you should depend for young growing and non - flowering shoot that will root more easily .

Take 10 centimeter cuttings , starting from just above a bud .

Once you have your cutting , remove lower leaves and dip the bottom in a rooting hormone .

institute your cutting off in a dope with compost and water them , then overcompensate with a plastic bag and place them somewhere lovesome .

Keep the soil moist , and after around 10 week , your cuttings should be rooted and ready to pot one by one .

References