Mount Olympus St. John's Wort Hypericum olympicum
- Phonetic Spelling
- hy-PER-ih-kum oh-LIM-pi-kum
- Description
-
Reaching only about 9 inches tall, Mount Olympus St. John's Wort is a perennial subshrub in the Hypericaceae family with showy, yellow flowers and simple broad leaves. Native to the north and central Balkan Peninsula to northwest Turkey, it is relatively rare outside of the alpine environments of Albania, Bulgaria, Greece, Turkey, and Yugoslavia.
The plant has an upright or spreading habit, depending on the cultivar, and some cultivars can grow taller. The plant grows well in moist, well-drained soils or many types including clay. Mount Olympus St. John's Wort should be planted in May or June to flower from June to August. Cuttings should be taken from May to July. The plant usually takes 5 to 10 years to reach its full height, but much less than that to reach maturity.
Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems:
No known diseases or insect pests.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Citrinum'
Upright dwarf. - 'Minus'
Dwarf plant.
- 'Citrinum'
- 'Citrinum', 'Minus'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Citrinum'
Upright dwarf. - 'Minus'
Dwarf plant.
- 'Citrinum'
- 'Citrinum', 'Minus'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Hypericum
- Species:
- olympicum
- Family:
- Hypericaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Northern and Central Balkan Peninsula to Northwest Turkey
- Distribution:
- United Kingdom
- Edibility:
- While the species is not harmful to humans, it can be toxic to dogs, cats, and horses, and should be planted away from such animals.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 0 ft. 4 in. - 0 ft. 9 in.
- Width: 0 ft. 4 in. - 1 ft. 8 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Perennial
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Dense
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- 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:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Blue
- Brown/Copper
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Occasionally berry-like.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Cyme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Good Cut
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Tubular
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- Erect stems with large golden yellow flowers. A very showy plant that blooms throughout the summer.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Lanceolate
- Oblong
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Gray-green deciduous leaves, translucent-dotted.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Patio
- Pool/Hardscape
- Small Space
- Walkways
- Landscape Theme:
- English Garden
- Rock Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Small groups
- Problems:
- Problem for Cats
- Problem for Dogs
- Problem for Horses
