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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', 'Minus'
Tags:
#evergreen#showy flowers#yellow flowers#dwarf#subshrub#problem for cats#perennial
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Citrinum'
    Upright dwarf.
  • 'Minus'
    Dwarf plant.
'Citrinum', 'Minus'
Tags:
#evergreen#showy flowers#yellow flowers#dwarf#subshrub#problem for cats#perennial
  • 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.
  • 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
  • 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
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Blue
    Brown/Copper
    Fruit Type:
    Capsule
    Fruit Length:
    1-3 inches
    Fruit Width:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Description:
    Occasionally berry-like.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
  • 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