Introducing...
Hypericum
Botanical name: Hypericum
Common name: St John's wort
Best known for its easy-going, long-flowering shrubs, the genus Hypericum is found worldwide and ranges from annuals to trees, taking in bog plants, alpines and herbaceous perennials. Grown for their sunny flowers and decorative berries the versatile shrubs are useful as groundcover, on slopes, for informal hedging or as specimen plants in borders.
Looks
Hypericum have golden-yellow, five-petalled flowers with prominent stamens often followed by long-lasting, colourful berries ranging from cream, yellow and red to black, surrounded by a green calyx ruff. Shrubs may be deciduous or evergreen and range in size from rock garden plants like creeping Hypericum reptans at just 5cm to Hypericum ‘Rowallane’ at nearly 2m.
Likes
Most thrive in sun or partial shade; Hypericum calycinum will tolerate full shade, whereas the dwarf, alpine types need full sun. They are happy on most soil types, provided drainage is reasonable, an exception being the bog-loving perennial Hypericum elodes.
Dislikes
Poorly drained or waterlogged soils can lead to root problems for most Hypericum, and dense shade will generally reduce flowering and result in leggy growth towards the light.
Did you know?
The name ‘St John’s wort’ comes from the tradition of gathering the flowers on St John the Baptist’s Day, 24th June. More recently the colourful fruits have become popular in floristry, with varieties specially bred for the purpose.
Growing guide
How to grow shrubs
All the information you need to grow and care for Hypericum in your garden
Hypericum we recommend
Hypericum × inodorum Magical Beauty ('Kolmbeau'PBR) (Magical Series)
tall tutsan [Magical Beauty]
- 0.5–1 metres
- 0.5–1 metres
Hypericum lancasteri
Lancastrian St John's wort
- 0.5–1 metres
- 0.5–1 metres
Hypericum tetrapterum
square-stalked St John's wort
- 0.5–1 metres
- 0.1–0.5 metres
Hypericum × inodorum Magical Beauty ('Kolmbeau'PBR) (Magical Series)
tall tutsan [Magical Beauty]
- 0.5–1 metres
- 0.5–1 metres
Hypericum lancasteri
Lancastrian St John's wort
- 0.5–1 metres
- 0.5–1 metres
Hypericum tetrapterum
square-stalked St John's wort
- 0.5–1 metres
- 0.1–0.5 metres
Useful advice
How to plant a shrub
Shade planting: shrubs
Slope stabilisation: part shade
Shrubs: pruning evergreens
Partial shade with autumn interest
Choosing native trees and shrubs
Cuttings: softwood
Low maintenance gardening
Get involved
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