St. John's Wort is a fertile hybrid, a match between H. androsaemum and H. hircinum . The result is a deciduous, semi-evergreen shrub that grows to 3 to 5 feet high. Plant it in moist, well-drained soil in full sun to partial shade, though it will tolerate deep shade. It does not like wet feet so do not over water. It will self-seed in the landscape but it is not aggressive. It tolerates most soil types. Plants develop extensive root systems and will benefit from a thick root mulch in cold winter climates. The hybrid is noted for its beautiful foliage, showy flowers and decorative berries. The yellow flowers differ from H. androsaemum in having petals conspicuously longer than the sepals and styles and from H. hircinum by having sepals that are persistent into the fruiting stage. Several × inodorum cultivars have been produced, which primarily differ from each other in plant habit and fruit color. Use as a hedge or in the borders of a drought-tolerant or shady garden. Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems : No significant problems.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight) | 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 | Occasionally Dry
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 5 ft. 0 in. | Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 5 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
3 - Shrub (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Clumping; Dense; Erect
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Opposite
Leaf shape
Ovate
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf value
Fragrant
Leaf size
1-3 inches long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Stalkless, ovate, opposite leaves (to 2 inches long) are aromatic when crushed.
Flower color
Gold/Yellow
Flower value
Long Bloom Season
Flower form
Cyme
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
One-inch buttercup-yellow flowers in branched clusters bloom mid to late summer (July-September).
Bloom time
Fall; Summer
Fruit color
Pink
Fruit type
Berry
Fruit value
Showy
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
Flowers are followed by showy coral pink fleshy, berry-like fruits.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
South West and South Central Europe
Distribution
Parts of South America, Great Britain, Ireland
Wildlife value
Food source for wildlife.
Attracts
Bees; Pollinators; Songbirds
Food & Medicine
Harvest time
Fall
Fruit type
Berry
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Meadow; Rock Wall
Landscape theme
Drought Tolerant Garden; Garden for the Blind; Shade Garden