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Hypericum hypericoides subsp. multicaule is often confused with:
Hypericum hypericoides Form
Plants that fill a similar niche:
Houstonia purpurea Houstonia purpurea
Verbena hastata Close up of flower
Verbesina occidentalis Flowers

Decumbent St. Andrew's Cross Hypericum hypericoides subsp. multicaule

Previously known as:

  • Ascyrum hypericoides var. multicaule
  • Hypericum stragulum
Phonetic Spelling
hy-PER-ih-kum hy-per-ee-KOY-deez subspecies mul-tee-KAW-lee
This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
See below
Description

Reclining St. Andrew's Cross is a native perennial, low-growing, shrub in the St. John's Wort Family (Hypericaceae). In nature, it is found in the central and eastern United States and is common to the dry woodlands of the North Carolina mountains and Piedmont. The stems grow up to 1 foot long and are erect to recumbent, many-branched from the base and matt forming. It can be found usually growing in somewhat acidic sandy loams in forest edges, streambanks, pond margins, roadsides, and disturbed areas.

The Genus name is from the Greek: hyper, meaning “above” and eikon, meaning “image,” referring to the practice of hanging these flowers above icons. The subspecies name multicaule means many-branched. The species epithet stragulum refers to the reclining, straggling habit of this plant.

This plant will tolerate most moist to dry well-drained soils in full sun to partial shade. Best blooming occurs in full sun. The small bright yellow flowers appear during the summer and attract pollinators. It reproduces by seed.

Use this plant in the native pollinator garden, meadows, forest edges and pond edges. 

Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems. It is fairly short-lived.

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#yellow flowers#pond margins#NC native#summer flowers#native garden#subshrub#NC Native Pollinator Plant#bee friendly#short-lived perennials#mat forming#pollinator garden#prostrate#forest edges
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#yellow flowers#pond margins#NC native#summer flowers#native garden#subshrub#NC Native Pollinator Plant#bee friendly#short-lived perennials#mat forming#pollinator garden#prostrate#forest edges
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Hypericum
    Species:
    hypericoides
    Family:
    Hypericaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Woody
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Seed
    Stem Cutting
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Eastern North America.
    Distribution:
    AL, AR, DC, DE , GA , IL , KS , KY , LA , MA , MD , MO , MS , NC , NJ , NY , OH , OK , PA , SC , TN , TX , VA
    Wildlife Value:
    This plant attracts birds, bees, and other pollinators.
    Dimensions:
    Height: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Native Plant
    Perennial
    Shrub
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Clumping
    Mounding
    Multi-stemmed
    Prostrate
    Spreading
    Growth Rate:
    Medium
    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)
    Alkaline (>8.0)
    Neutral (6.0-8.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    Occasionally Dry
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Fall
    Summer
    Fruit Type:
    Capsule
    Fruit Length:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Width:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Description:
    Oval capsules taper abruptly to the short beaks and contain numerous seeds. Fruit displays from July to November.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Cyme
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Summer
    Flower Shape:
    Cross
    Flower Petals:
    4-5 petals/rays
    Flower Size:
    1-3 inches
    Flower Description:
    Four sepals and four narrow yellow petals each a 1/2 inch long form an X shape. They appear in groups of 1-3 in the upper leaf axils and have multiple long stamens. Flowers bloom from June to August.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Feel:
    Rough
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Opposite
    Leaf Shape:
    Linear
    Oblanceolate
    Leaf Margin:
    Entire
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Width:
    < 1 inch
    Leaf Description:
    1" long simple, opposite, entire margins, oblanceolate to linear, wider at the tips than the middle, with glands on leaf surface. Leaves are sessile (no stems).
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Red/Burgundy
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Cross Section:
    Angular
    Stem Surface:
    Corky Ridges
    Stem Description:
    Younger stems are dark red. Older stems are woody and angular with ridges.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Meadow
    Pond
    Woodland
    Landscape Theme:
    Native Garden
    Pollinator Garden
    Design Feature:
    Border
    Mass Planting
    Attracts:
    Bees
    Pollinators
    Small Mammals
    Songbirds
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Dry Soil
    Problems:
    Short-lived
  • Poisonous to Humans:
    Poison Severity:
    Low
    Poison Symptoms:
    Contact with the sap can cause photosensitivity in sensitive people.
    Poison Toxic Principle:
    Unidentified, possibly a glycoside
    Causes Contact Dermatitis:
    No
    Poison Part:
    Sap/Juice