Shrubby St. John’s Wort (Hypericum prolificum) is a hardy perennial suitable for USDA zones 4-8. It is native to the Eastern and Central United States and parts of Eastern Canada.
This plant is known for its bright yellow, five-petaled flowers, characterized by a profusion of stamens that obscure the petals. To encourage new growth, prune it in early spring. It blooms from July to September in its second or third year, producing flowers with a delightful fragrance. However, the leaves emit an unpleasant aroma when bruised. While the flowers do not produce nectar, they are valuable for native pollinators by providing rich pollen. This plant makes an excellent cut flower and attracts bees and butterflies, serving as a host plant for these pollinators. It thrives in full sun to partial shade and reaches a mature height of 1-4 feet with a spread of 1-4 feet. The dried flowers and seed capsules can be valuable for dried floral arrangements.
Shrubby St. John’s Wort is adaptable to various soil types, including dry, rocky, sandy, and clay soils, making it great for rain gardens and stabilizing slopes. Although it prefers moist soil, it is also drought-tolerant.
This compact deciduous shrub features dark green, narrow, oblanceolate leaves. Older stems have exfoliating bark, revealing a pale orange inner layer. Its shape is mounded, compact, and round. The seed heads form reddish-brown, cone-shaped capsules that split open in the fall to release numerous tiny black seeds. These capsules persist through winter, adding visual interest and providing food for birds. The root system consists of rhizomes, making it a good companion plant for other shrubs.
You can propagate Shrubby St. John’s Wort by seed or by dividing the plant. To divide, carefully dig up the root ball in early spring or fall and separate it into sections. Cut back the foliage to aid in root establishment and keep the plant well-watered until it becomes established. It is resistant to both deer and rabbits.
Historically, Shrubby St. John’s Wort was hung above pictures, windows, and religious icons on St. John's Eve to protect against evil spirits. It was also used in folk medicine for wound healing and other ailments.
Shrubby St. John’s Wort (Hypericum prolificum) is a hardy perennial suitable for USDA zones 4-8. It is native to the Eastern and Central United States and parts of Eastern Canada.
This plant is known for its bright yellow, five-petaled flowers, characterized by a profusion of stamens that obscure the petals. To encourage new growth, prune it in early spring. It blooms from July to September in its second or third year, producing flowers with a delightful fragrance. However, the leaves emit an unpleasant aroma when bruised. While the flowers do not produce nectar, they are valuable for native pollinators by providing rich pollen. This plant makes an excellent cut flower and attracts bees and butterflies, serving as a host plant for these pollinators. It thrives in full sun to partial shade and reaches a mature height of 1-4 feet with a spread of 1-4 feet. The dried flowers and seed capsules can be valuable for dried floral arrangements.
Shrubby St. John’s Wort is adaptable to various soil types, including dry, rocky, sandy, and clay soils, making it great for rain gardens and stabilizing slopes. Although it prefers moist soil, it is also drought-tolerant.
This compact deciduous shrub features dark green, narrow, oblanceolate leaves. Older stems have exfoliating bark, revealing a pale orange inner layer. Its shape is mounded, compact, and round. The seed heads form reddish-brown, cone-shaped capsules that split open in the fall to release numerous tiny black seeds. These capsules persist through winter, adding visual interest and providing food for birds. The root system consists of rhizomes, making it a good companion plant for other shrubs.
You can propagate Shrubby St. John’s Wort by seed or by dividing the plant. To divide, carefully dig up the root ball in early spring or fall and separate it into sections. Cut back the foliage to aid in root establishment and keep the plant well-watered until it becomes established. It is resistant to both deer and rabbits.
Historically, Shrubby St. John’s Wort was hung above pictures, windows, and religious icons on St. John's Eve to protect against evil spirits. It was also used in folk medicine for wound healing and other ailments.
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