Hypericum is a truly interesting genus that contains almost 500 species of flowering plants. In the gardening world, most species belonging to this rich genus are known by their common name ‘St. John’s wort’. However, some Hypericum species might also appear in nurseries or markets by the common name ‘Goatweed’.
The primary common name ‘St. John’s wort’ refers to the idea that people harvested the flowers of these species on 24 June, the Catholic Saint’s Day, which honours the nativity of St. John the Baptist.
Once they harvest the flowers, the believers would hang them over statues or paintings of St. John in their homes. It was believed that this practice would protect them from evil spirits. Fun fact: the word “wort” means “plant” in Old English.
If you find one of these beauties in nurseries or in a friend’s garden, do not hesitate to bring it home with you! People have been familiar with St. John’s wort plant for thousands of years and over time, this plant has come to symbolize protection and rebirth and it can also be associated with positive feelings of joy, cheerfulness and inspiration.
It is a friendly and super exciting ornamental companion to have around. Although all Hypericum species look somewhat similar at a first glance, a bit of research will prove that each species has its unique personality.
In other words, you have plenty of options to choose from. Thus, we warmly recommend you check as many specimens as you can until you find at least one that suits your taste!
But before you start growing Hypericum a.k.a St. John’s wort, make sure you read this article to learn what this plant needs in terms of its environment.
About St. John’s Wort
- St. John’s Wort plants belong to the Hypericaceae family of plants, which also goes by the name St. John’s Wort family. These flowers have a nearly worldwide distribution, occurring absolutely everywhere except for the deserts, tropical lowlands, and polar regions.
- The most popular Hypericum species that are cultivated as ornamental plants include H. aegypticum, H. androsaemum, H. balearicum, H. bellum, H. calycinum, H. densiflorum, H. elodes, H. forrestii, H. kalmianum, H. olympicum, and H. perforatum.
- The species come along with spectacular varieties and hybrids, bringing more ornamental importance to their name. Some of these are ‘Golden Rule’, ‘Sunburst’, ‘Blues Festival’, ‘Cobalt-n-Gold’, ‘Sunny Boulevard’, ‘Hidcote’, ‘Elstead’, ‘Magical’ series, ‘Red Fame’, ‘Red Star’, and ‘Tricolor’.
- Due to their eye-catching appearance, the ‘Hidcote’ and ‘Rowallane’ cultivars, among with H. × moserianum hybrid, have gained the Award of Garden Merit from the prestigious Royal Horticultural Society.
- Hypericum species are common food plants for various species of beetles including St. John’s wort root borer. Likewise, the Lepidoptera larvae (common emerald, the grey pug, the engrailed) and the caterpillars of the St. John’s wort inchworm, a species of moth, often feed on the foliage of these plants.
- The St. John’s wort plant is a perfect addition to many different types of landscape decorations, such as banks, slopes, naturalized areas, cottage gardens, city gardens, rock gardens, borders, hedging planting, mass planting, or containers.
- Hypericum perforatum is probably the most well-known and appreciated Hypericum species in the gardening world. It is a noxious weed and an invasive species in the humid and sub-humid temperate areas globally in farmlands and gardens.
- St. John’s wort is considered an invasive plant in South Africa, southern Australia, and North and South America. In the western United States, St. John’s wort is commonly referred to as Klamath weed, and to keep it under control, certain beetle species have been introduced to eat the plants and prevent them from spreading.
- St. John’s wort is a plant that doesn’t require much to thrive, which is why it’s quite common to find it growing along roadsides, on fields, prairies, pastures, around waste areas, and in all types of abandoned gardens and places.
- This plant does and looks great near other superb ornamental species. The best companions for it are native flowering plants, ornamental grasses, foliage ornamentals, and herbs. Here are a few examples of plants that will thrive alongside Hypericum: Black-Eyed Susan, Bloody Cranesbill, Chinese Lantern, Cornus alba ‘Sibirica’, Fountain Grass, Globe Thistle, Heuchera, Hyssop, Montbretia, or Spiraea.
- Hypericum perforatum (Common St. John’s wort) has a long history in traditional medicine and herbalism. It is a popular herbal substitute for prescription drugs, especially in Europe. People use commercial pill forms of St. John’s wort extract as a treatment for depression and also as a dietary supplement. However, this plant can also cause increased sensitivity to the sun, so it’s highly recommended to use it only if your doctor recommends it.
- Hypericum has been used as a traditional treatment for millennia by crusaders such as the Knights Hospitaller and the Order of St. John who would use an extract of St. John’s wort to treat wounds. There are many writings about the Middle Ages that describe St. John’s wort being used as a treatment for a wide range of conditions including insomnia, burns, injuries, high blood pressure, stomach problems, etc.
- The St. John’s wort plant contains a compound known as hypericin that sensitizes the skin to sunlight. Getting in touch with this compound can be pretty dangerous for humans. The plant is also poisonous to livestock and pets as it can cause photodermatitis. Because of this, you should keep your plant in a spot where no kids or pets can reach it.
St. John’s Wort Features: An Overview
- The Hypericum family of plants includes hundreds of members so it’s only natural for these plants to have various environmental requirements and growth habits. Hypericum plants can be either annual, perennial herbs, shrubs, or even trees. Most Hypericum species appear as completely glabrous, while others feature simple hairs or long, fine ones.
- Depending on the species and cultivar, the St. John’s wort plants can reach up to 1 to 3 feet (30-90 cm) in height. In some cases, the plant can grow quite wide and it can have a shrub-like growth habit. However, most members of the Hypericum family grow upright.
- The foliage of the St. John’s wort plants is quite variable from one specimen to another. It can consist of many somewhat narrow, ovoid to elongate to linear-shaped, green, greyish-green, blue-grey leaves, or variegated leaves.
- A trick to distinguish Hypericum species is to look for the line patterns on their stems. For example, while H. perforatum features two lines on its stems, H. maculatum, on the other hand, has four lines.
- The stems of various St. John’s wort plants come along with dark glands, which are clusters of black to reddish cells, and pale glands, which are intracellular spaces lined with flattened cells.
- In general, St. John’s wort plants can bloom from June through September. During this period, they produce flowers that have a wide range of sizes and shapes.
- The blossoms are most often yellow, but the varieties and hybrids exhibit other shades, such as orangish-yellow, pale lemony, white, pinkish, or tinged or lined with red.
- When the flowering period begins to end, some Hypericum cultivars may bear fruits. They are fleshy, elongated fruits that have a generous colour palette including hues of white, salmon-pink, rosy-red, yellowish-orange, and burgundy.
- Hypericum anagalloides, commonly known as creeping Saint-John’s-wort, tinker’s penny and bog St. John’s-wort and H. patulum, known as goldencup Saint-John’s-wort are two types of Hypericum species that can be used as ornamental plants. Both types produce beautiful yellow blooms but H. anagalloides is more of a groundcover, while H. patulum has a shubby aspect.
- H. hypericoides, commonly known as St.-Andrew’s-cross is another great example of Hypericum plant that can be cultivated as an ornamental shrub for its attractive flowers.
Growing St. John’s Wort
Despite all worries and expectations, we assure you that the St. John’s wort plant is very easy to grow and care for. This friendly plant can withstand a wide range of conditions regarding sunlight exposure, temperatures, and soil.
Moreover, Hypericum plants perform best with less water than other species of flowering plants. But we will talk about this a bit later!
Keep reading to find out how low-demanding the St. John’s wort plant is and, implicitly, how simple is to meet its needs and spoil it from time to time!
When it comes to lighting, the St. John’s wort plant will have different requirements depending on the region and climate. In the Northern hemisphere, this plant will grow and bloom nicely if you place it in a location where it can experience lots of full sunlight. In the Southern hemisphere, on the other hand, the St. John’s wort plant will have the time of its life only with the conditions of receiving a bit of shade.
- ENJOY ABUNDANT GERMINATION: Cultivate non-GMO, heirloom, open-pollinated seeds with exceptional germination rates. Each 250 mg packet includes over 2000 seeds, perfect for a thriving outdoor or indoor herb garden. Germination at 68-75°F, sprouting in 14-30 days ensures vibrant growth in your resilient, sustainable garden.
- GROW WITH CONFIDENCE: Grow with ease, whether you’re a novice or expert. These seeds thrive in various climates, are drought and cold tolerant, and include instructions for stress-free gardening. Plant outdoors in spring after frost, or indoors 6-8 weeks before frost for early starts, making it ideal for both outdoor herb gardens and indoor settings.
- REAP MEDICINAL REWARDS: Experience the therapeutic benefits of St. John’s Wort, known for enhancing mood and promoting overall wellness. This easy-to-grow herb is a valuable addition to your native wildflower collection, offering natural health benefits with minimal care, perfect for sustainable living.
- ADMIRE THE ORNAMENTAL BEAUTY: Admire the vibrant yellow flowers that brighten any space. Ideal for outdoor beds, indoor containers, or as ground cover, this plant adds captivating color and charm to your garden, enhancing its aesthetic appeal while attracting beneficial pollinators.
- APPRECIATE PERENNIAL GROWTH: Revel in the enduring nature of this hardy perennial. It returns year after year, supporting pollinators and beneficial insects, enriching your garden’s ecosystem with minimal maintenance. Its resilience and deer-resistant properties make it an eco-friendly and reliable choice for your garden.
- Historical Use: Used since ancient times, St. John's Wort was believed to ward off evil and has been utilized in traditional medicine for its healing properties.
- Depression Relief: Modern use focuses on its effectiveness in mild to moderate depression, acting by increasing neurotransmitter levels in the brain.
- Cultivation: Easily grown in sunny, well-drained areas; harvested in summer for its flowers, which are turned into teas, oils, and capsules.
- Preparation: This herb can be prepared in several forms: tinctures, teas, & oils. For topical applications, St. John's Wort oil is known for its healing properties on burns, bruises, and skin irritations.
- Quality: All seeds packaged by Seed Needs are intended for the current and the following growing seasons. All seeds are stored in a temperature controlled facility that is free of significant amounts of moisture.
- Hypericum perforatum, or commonly called St. John’s Wort, is a short-lived, shrubby perennial that has lovely, bright yellow flowers and is known as a medicinal herb.
- St. John's Wort is a 24 inch tall perennial growing in USDA zones 4 - 8.
- Sow St. John’s Wort seed indoors 6 – 8 weeks before the last expected frost. Or, for areas with a long growing season, start the seed directly outdoors in a prepared seed bed after frost danger has passed.
- Sowing Rate: 3 - 4 seeds per plant. Press the seed into the soil but do not cover it. Keep seed moist until germination. With a temperature of 60F, germination is usually within 20 days.
- Space the plant 18 – 24 inches apart. Grow this perennial in full sun to partial shade and in well-draining soil. St. John’s Wort is usually resistant to deer.
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This kind of protection is most efficient during the second part of the day when the harsh afternoon sunlight hits.
The St. John’s wort plant is cold-hardy even in those regions where temperatures drop to (-12). Still, a combination of prolonged freezing temperatures, cold winds, and snow may affect the overall well-being of this flower.
If the winter temperatures in your zone are cold but not as harsh as those mentioned above, you can overwinter your plant by mulching it in autumn. Likewise, we suggest you cover the plant with a plastic bag to protect it from winds. In case you do not want to go through all this fuss, you can also plant your St. John’s wort in a pot and bring it inside before the weather gets cooler in fall.
Luckily, the St. John’s wort plant is generally disease-free. When we are talking about pests, however, some intruders might visit your plant once in a while.
Some of these are aphids, scale insects, thrips, or white flies. If you encounter these issues, you can easily get rid of the infestation by washing your plants and knocking off the intruders. Washing the plants is a great solution for aphids, but for severe infestations, you can also treat your plant with neem oil or another horticultural oil.
Planting St. John’s Wort
Since the St. John’s wort plant tends to grow and spread as it wishes with time, it would be wise to plant it in a spot where it has enough room to develop properly. This will also help you avoid overcrowding other species that grow near it and eventually affect their performance.
In terms of soil pH, the St. John’s wort plant is not as picky as other species of flowering plants. This ornamental species can tolerate a wide variety, from acidic to alkaline types. It usually prefers to grow in soil that comes along with very sharp drainage.
Even if this particular type of growing medium is beneficial for your plant, this does not necessarily mean it is mandatory for optimal growth. The St. John’s wort plant can also do just fine in a compacted ground, but it will not experience the same drainage as with a well-draining substrate.
Although the St. John’s wort plant can grow pretty well in poor soils, it benefits more from fertile growing mediums that are rich in organic matter.
Because of this, you will have to amend your plant’s soil with compost once every year for excellent results. If you are doing this annually, you can basically forget about supplemental fertilizing once and for all without worrying about your plant’s general performance.
In the opinion of many gardeners, the St. John’s wort plant has the status of a weed. But this should not stop you from adding this plant to your garden.
In fact, you can control the growth and spread of this plant by pruning it regularly. You can do this whenever you notice that your plant tends to become leggy or just occupies too much space. This process will not only help you keep a certain size on your companion, but also improve its overall health and performance for the next season of growth.
If you are thinking about growing your St. John’s wort plant in a container, you should know that regular repotting is necessary for best results. However, this is not a hard part of its caring routine. When the plant seems to lack space in its current pot, all you have to do is transplant it into one that is slightly larger, then give it the same care as before.
Watering St. John’s Wort
When the St. John’s wort plants are young, usually during their first year of growth, they will appreciate if you water them regularly and whenever the soil feels dry to the touch.
Once established, these plants become reasonably tolerant of drought and will thrive if you water them when the soil has dried out completely or even less frequently. This makes these plants great additions to rock gardens, gardens that don’t get a lot of rain, and can be easily grown by neglectful or busy gardeners.
Propagating St. John’s Wort Plant
Another great thing about the St. John’s wort plant is that you can propagate it through various methods that are easy to do for any type of gardener including beginners. In general, the most common propagation materials are seeds, softwood cuttings, and divided roots.
But enough talking! Let’s show you how you can master these propagation techniques to obtain more specimens for your plant family. And if you feel like it, you can also show your love to one of your family members or friends by gifting him or her a cute St. John’s wort young plant.
Growing St. John’s Wort from seeds
To start the plants from seeds, you will first need to collect them from the mother plant. You can sow the seeds whenever you want between mid-spring and early autumn. The seeds will send seedlings in the same way whether you sow them in a pot filled with fresh potting mix or directly in the ground outside.
Either way, you must assure that the growing medium is weed-free and well-dug and the top layer of soil has a crumbly texture. Keep the soil moist and you will notice growth in little to no time.
Growing St. John’s Wort from cuttings
If you want to use softwood cuttings, you should wait for July or August to do it, as this is when the plant is in full bloom. Look for young, non-flowering stems on your plant and cut about 4 inches (10 cm) off them with a sharp, sterilized knife.
Remove the lower leaves, dip the cut ends in rooting hormone, and then plant each cutting in its pot filled with compost. If you place them in a warm area, cover them with a plastic bag, and keep their soil moist, the cuttings will develop roots in ten weeks or so.
Growing St. John’s Wort by division
Dividing your St. John’s wort plant through division is super simple and works best if you do it in spring or autumn. All you have to do is lift the plant out of its soil, divide the root ball into two or three pieces, replant each section wherever you want, and water them well.
In Conclusion
The Hypericum family of plants are often referred to as St. John’s Wort plants and they are all wonderful and friendly garden companions that can grow in almost any type of soil and don’t need much to thrive. Whether you already have Hypericum species in your plant collection or not, there is always more room for another special ornamental plant. These plants will make your garden more attractive to beneficial pollinators and will also look great with no effort.
Are you growing Hypericum a.k.a. St. John’s wort in your garden? Share your experience with other gardeners by leaving a comment below and let us know what type of Hypericum you enjoy growing and why!