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Sandhill St. John's Wort Hypericum galioides

Other Common Name(s):

Previously known as:

  • Hypericum ambiguum
Phonetic Spelling
hy-PER-ih-kum gal-ee-OY-deez
Description

Bedstraw St. John's Wort is a perennial, flowering shrub, slender and branching, found in wet to moist habitats in the coastal plain of the southeastern United States from North Carolina south to Florida and west to Texas. In nature, it can often be seen in stream banks, swamps, river bottoms, floodplains, lake edges, wet pine forests, and ditches. It can reach 6 feet tall at maturity with a spreading habit and blooms in summer with yellow flowers.

It requires a moist well-drained site in sun to partial shade although it tolerates dry soil. It can be used as a ground cover or in groupings near water features.

Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems:

No known diseases or insect pests.

 

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • Brodie
Brodie
Tags:
#cultivars#evergreen#drought tolerant#yellow flowers#native shrub#NC native#groundcover#fantz#NC Native Pollinator Plant#perennial
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • Brodie
Brodie
Tags:
#cultivars#evergreen#drought tolerant#yellow flowers#native shrub#NC native#groundcover#fantz#NC Native Pollinator Plant#perennial
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Hypericum
    Species:
    galioides
    Family:
    Hypericaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Root Cutting
    Seed
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    North Carolina south to Florica and west to Texas
    Distribution:
    coastal plains
    Wildlife Value:
    Important food source for wildlife.
    Dimensions:
    Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Ground Cover
    Native Plant
    Perennial
    Shrub
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Broadleaf Evergreen
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Clumping
    Erect
    Multi-stemmed
    Spreading
    Growth Rate:
    Medium
    Maintenance:
    Low
    Texture:
    Coarse
  • 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 Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    Occasionally Wet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Fall
    Fruit Type:
    Capsule
    Fruit Length:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Description:
    Three to five celled capsule, sometimes fleshy. The fruits are 1/4 inch long and ovoid.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Cyme
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Summer
    Flower Shape:
    Cup
    Flower Petals:
    4-5 petals/rays
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    Bright yellow flowers summer into early fall. The flowers are small, in terminal and axillary cymes, with very narrow sepals. Each flower is 1/2 inch in diameter. It flowers in the summer, between June and August. Solitary or cymose, terminal or axillary. Yellow (usually) 5-petaled (rarely 4), 5 sepals (rarely 4); stamens numerous, in bundles or in showy boss.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Broadleaf Evergreen
    Deciduous
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Feel:
    Rough
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Opposite
    Whorled
    Leaf Shape:
    Oblanceolate
    Leaf Margin:
    Entire
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    > 6 inches
    Leaf Width:
    < 1 inch
    Leaf Description:
    Simple very narrow leaves; 2-edged stem. The leaves are 5 to 14 inches long and 1/4 inch across with mostly acute tips. Opposite or whorled, decussate, entire; sessile or petiole short.
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Form:
    Straight
    Stem Description:
    Contain 2 to 4 (up to 6) ridges on newer growth, smooth and rounded on older growth.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Naturalized Area
    Pond
    Riparian
    Landscape Theme:
    Native Garden
    Pollinator Garden
    Rain Garden
    Water Garden
    Design Feature:
    Border
    Mass Planting
    Attracts:
    Butterflies
    Songbirds
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Drought