St. John's wort Hypericum frondosum
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called St. John's wort:
- Phonetic Spelling
- hy-PER-ih-kum frond-OH-sum
- Description
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St. John's Wort is native to SE USA and in NC it is found in the western mountain areas. It is a small, dense shrub that grows 2-4 feet tall and wide with a rounded dense form. It inhabits glades and dry limestone ledges. The foliage may appear slightly bluish-green and is evergreen in its southern range. The showy yellow flowers are bright yellow with numerous stamens on new wood and appear in June-July.
This plant prefers rich sandy loams in full sun to partial shade but is adaptable to other soils if well-drained. Use as a hedge, foundations or in small groups. Attracts pollinators.
Family name Hypericaceae (Guttifereae)
Quick ID Hints:
- Stems 2-4 ridged on newer growth
- Leaves paired or whorled, sessile or short-stalked
- 5-petaled yellow flowers with numerous stamens
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Sunburst'
Slightly larger flowers on a 3 foot plant
- 'Sunburst'
- 'Sunburst'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Sunburst'
Slightly larger flowers on a 3 foot plant
- 'Sunburst'
- 'Sunburst'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Hypericum
- Species:
- frondosum
- Family:
- Hypericaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- South East U.S.A. to Texas
- Distribution:
- AL, CT, FL, GA, IN, KY, LA, MA, MS, NC, NY, SC, TN, TX, VA
- Wildlife Value:
- Attracts pollinators
- Dimensions:
- Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Perennial
- Shrub
- Wildflower
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Dense
- Erect
- Mounding
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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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:
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Description:
- A (2)3-5 celled oval capsule, sometimes fleshy.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Cyme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- Five-petaled with bushy, dense stamens. Solitary or cymose, terminal or axillary. Yellow (usually) 5-petaled (rarely 4), 5 sepals (rarely 4); stamens numerous, in bundles or in showy boss.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Blue
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Whorled
- Leaf Shape:
- Linear
- Oblanceolate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Linear to oblanceolate up to 3" long. Opposite or whorled, decussate, simple, entire; sessile or petiole short.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Brown
- Red/Burgundy
- Surface/Attachment:
- Exfoliating
- Bark Description:
- Reddish-brown exfoliating bark on mature shrubs
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Blue
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Contain 2 to 4(up to 6) ridges on newer growth, smooth and rounded on older growth.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Naturalized Area
- Rock Wall
- Landscape Theme:
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rock Garden
- Design Feature:
- Foundation Planting
- Hedge
- Small groups
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
