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Hypericum calycinum

Phonetic Spelling
hy-PER-ih-kum ka-lee-SIN-um
This plant has high severity poison characteristics.
See below
Description

Aaron's Beard, or St. John's Wort, is a flowering deciduous herbaceous shrub or small tree, excellent for use on extreme slopes or sandy soils. It is one of about 400 species in the Hypericum genus that includes herbs, shrubs and trees, all with different bloom times and cultural requirements. Arron's Beard, like many in this family, spreads by underground stems and has moderate drought tolerance. It has 2 to 4 inch ovate or oblong, acute leaves and large 5-petaled, 5-sepaled yellow flowers with numerous, erect stamens that give a powder-puff appearance. It blooms in summer and, with its spreading habit, is often used as groundcover. The plant can grow in the heavy shade of trees and in dry shade and is vigorous to the point where it can swamp out small plants. To maximize its use as a ground cover, you can cut it to ground level in the spring. It can be considered an evergreen in warm winter climates, but usually dies to the ground in cold winters. However, it blooms on new growth and comes back each spring.

Aaron's Beard prefers fertile, loamy well-drained acidic soil, but it is easily grown in any well-drained but moisture retentive soil including dry soils and heavy clay. It will grow in sun or shade, but flowers best in a sunny position. It tolerates cold and drought once established and is ornamental but rapidly spreading by means of stolons.

Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems:

No known diseases or insect pests. Rust can sometimes be a problem.

See this plant in the following landscape:
Juniper Level Botanic Gardens: Muscadine Bed
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Brigadoon'
  • 'Fiesta'
'Brigadoon', 'Fiesta'
Tags:
#evergreen#drought tolerant#low growing#purple leaves#yellow flowers#slopes#spreading#groundcover#fantz#sandy soils tolerant
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Brigadoon'
  • 'Fiesta'
'Brigadoon', 'Fiesta'
Tags:
#evergreen#drought tolerant#low growing#purple leaves#yellow flowers#slopes#spreading#groundcover#fantz#sandy soils tolerant
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Hypericum
    Species:
    calycinum
    Family:
    Hypericaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Division
    Seed
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Southern Europe, Western Asia, Turkey
    Distribution:
    West Coast of the United States, introduced into Tennessee and North Carolina.
    Wildlife Value:
    Attracts butterflies.
    Edibility:
    Highly toxic if ingested.
    Dimensions:
    Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
    Width: 1 ft. 6 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Ground Cover
    Shrub
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Broadleaf Evergreen
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Horizontal
    Spreading
    Growth Rate:
    Rapid
    Maintenance:
    Low
    Texture:
    Medium
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Texture:
    Clay
    Loam (Silt)
    Sand
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    Occasionally Dry
    Available Space To Plant:
    12 inches-3 feet
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
  • Fruit:
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Fall
    Fruit Type:
    Capsule
    Fruit Description:
    Three to five celled capsule, sometimes fleshy.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Cyme
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Summer
    Flower Shape:
    Cup
    Star
    Flower Petals:
    4-5 petals/rays
    Flower Size:
    1-3 inches
    Flower Description:
    Single 3 inch yellow flowers. Solitary or cymose, terminal or axillary. Yellow (usually) 5-petaled (rarely 4), 5 sepals (rarely 4); stamens numerous, in bundles or in showy boss. Flowers appear singly or in groups of 2 or 3 and cover the plant in summer.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Broadleaf Evergreen
    Deciduous
    Leaf Color:
    Blue
    Green
    Purple/Lavender
    Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
    Purple/Lavender
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Opposite
    Whorled
    Leaf Shape:
    Oblong
    Ovate
    Leaf Margin:
    Entire
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    3-6 inches
    Leaf Description:
    Three to four inch long medium to dark green leaves; bluish green below; purplish in the fall. Opposite or whorled, decussate, simple, entire; sessile or petiole short.
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Description:
    Contain 2 to 4 (up to 6) ridges on newer growth, smooth and rounded on older growth. Four-angled stems are both procumbent and ascending.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Naturalized Area
    Slope/Bank
    Woodland
    Landscape Theme:
    Rock Garden
    Design Feature:
    Border
    Mass Planting
    Attracts:
    Butterflies
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Drought
    Dry Soil
  • Poisonous to Humans:
    Poison Severity:
    High
    Poison Symptoms:
    Can cause severe illness if ingested.
    Poison Toxic Principle:
    Unidentified, possibly a glycoside
    Causes Contact Dermatitis:
    Yes
    Poison Part:
    Leaves
    Sap/Juice