St. Andrew's Cross Hypericum hypericoides
Previously known as:
- Ascyrum hypericoides
- Ascyrum hypericoides var. typicum
- Phonetic Spelling
- hy-PER-ih-kum hy-per-ee-KOY-deez
- Description
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St. Andrew's cross is a native semi-evergreen shrub in the St. John's wort (Hypericaceae) family. It is native to the Eastern USA, Mexico and Central America. In NC it can be found growing in the coastal plain in light sandy soils of prairies, open pine-hardwood and hardwood forests, thickets, grasslands, and bogs. This small shrub will grow 2-4 feet tall and 1-3 feet wide. It is a wildlife-friendly plant.
St. Andrew's cross prefers average moist to dry sandy or loamy soils in full sun to partial shade. It is very adaptive to various conditions and is fairly drought-tolerant but not salt-tolerant. The small yellow flowers have 4 sepals that form an "x" and attract various pollinators. It has a fairly long bloom season during the summer. In warmer climates, it will bloom nearly all year.
Use this plant in the native/pollinator garden or any naturalized area. It can also be planted at pond or stream margins in well-drained soils. Propagation is by seed or stem cuttings.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems. Fairly short-lived.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Hypericum
- Species:
- hypericoides
- Family:
- Hypericaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Distribution:
- Alabama, Arkansas, Bahamas, Bermuda, Cuba, Delaware, District of Columbia, Dominican Republic, Florida, Georgia, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mexico Central, Mexico Gulf, Mexico Northeast, Mexico Southeast, Mexico Southwest, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia
- Wildlife Value:
- Bees and butterflies vist the flowers. Birds will eat the seeds.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Dense
- Erect
- Multi-stemmed
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- 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:
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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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 contain several seeds
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Solitary
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Long Bloom Season
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Cross
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Colored Sepals
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Flowers are usually 1 inch across or less, have 4 long narrow yellow sepals and several long stamens. They bloom from the upper leaf axils. Bloom time can be spring through fall depending on the climate. The sepals form an unequal "x"
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Deciduous
- Leaf Feel:
- Smooth
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Long-lasting
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Linear
- Oblanceolate
- Oblong
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Small green leaves are linear to oblong-oblanceolate that are narrowed at their base and dotted with glands. They are sessile (no stems) and have entire margins.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Brown
- Red/Burgundy
- Surface/Attachment:
- Shredding
- Bark Description:
- Older stems have shredding bark
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- Reddish brown smooth stems
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
- Pond
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Heat
- Problems:
- Short-lived
