Olympic St John's-wort Hypericum olympicum
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Hypericum repens
- Hyperiicum fragile
- Phonetic Spelling
- hy-PER-ih-kum oh-LIM-pi-kum
- Description
-
Mt. Olympus St. John's wort is a deciduous subshrub in the Hypericaceae family native to the Balkans and Turkey. It was introduced to Europe in the 1600s ands has been widely cultivated due to its large flowers. In its native habitat is is found in elevations of 0 to 6500 feet in rocky or sandy areas, along pine forests and open grassy areas.
Mt. Olympus St. John's wort will grow upright or decumbent, from 6 to 15 inches tall in full sun in well-drained average, sandy or rocky soils. It is drought-tolerant once established. Prefers dry summer conditions.
Showy yellow flowers up to 2 inches across in terminal clusters open mid-summer to fall. Leaves are small, gray-green and stalkless. It can be toxic to dogs, cats, and horses, and should be planted away from such animals.
Use this plant in rock, drought- tolerant or pollinator gardens. Use in the border of a cottage or English garden or in a container. The cultivar 'Citrinum' may be the easiest to find for sale.
Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems: No significant diseases or insect pests.
- See this plant in the following landscape :
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Citrinum'
Upright dwarf. with pale yellow flowers - 'Minus'
Dwarf plant.
- 'Citrinum'
- 'Citrinum', 'Minus'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Citrinum'
Upright dwarf. with pale yellow flowers - '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
- Wildlife Value:
- Flowers attract pollinators
- Dimensions:
- Height: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 8 in.
- Width: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
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-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Perennial
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Cascading
- Dense
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Medium
-
-
Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil pH:
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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-
Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Blue
- Brown/Copper
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Triangular, dry seed pod that opens from the top to relase seeds.
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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:
- Cup
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- Erect stems with large golden-yellow flowers up to 2 inches across. The yellow petals surround many prominent stamens. Blooms mid-summer to fall.
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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:
- Lanceolate
- Oblong
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Gray-green deciduous leaves are oblong, lanceolate, or ovate, stemless and opposite on the stem. They are 1/3 to 1 and 1/4 inch long and !4 or less inch wide
-
-
Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
-
-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Patio
- Pool/Hardscape
- Small Space
- Walkways
- Landscape Theme:
- Cottage Garden
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- English Garden
- Rock Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Small groups
- Attracts:
- Pollinators
- Problems:
- Problem for Cats
- Problem for Dogs
- Problem for Horses
