Atlantic St. John's Wort or Sandhill St. John's-wort is one of more than 400 species of perennial, flowering shrubs in the St. John's wort family, Hypericaceae . Atlantic St. John's Wort is native to the Southeastern United States and often found in found in wet to moist habitats in from North Carolina south to Florida. Its habitat includes dry, open, sandy areas such as pine flat woods, pine savannas, and sand hills. Atlantic St. John's-wort is a small, spreading shrub growing 4–20 inches tall and forming mats. This plant is slightly salt tolerant. It requires a moist well-drained site in sun to partial shade although it tolerates most soil types, including dry soil, and full sun will maximize blooms. It can be used as a ground cover or in groupings near water features. Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems : No known diseases or insect pests.
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.
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 drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Dry
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in. | Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Slow
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (1-3 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Clumping; Dense; Erect; Mounding
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Broadleaf Evergreen; Deciduous
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Opposite; Whorled
Leaf shape
Oblanceolate
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf feel
Rough
Leaf size
3-6 inches long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Simple, very narrow leaves; 2-edged stem. Opposite or whorled, decussate, entire; sessile or petiole short.
Flower color
Gold/Yellow
Flower value
Long Bloom Season; Showy
Flower form
Cyme
Flower shape
Cup
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Solitary or cymose, terminal or axillary. Yellow (usually) 5-petaled (rarely 4), 5 sepals (rarely 4); stamens numerous, in bundles or in showy boss. Blooms from June to September.
Bloom time
Summer
Fruit color
Brown/Copper
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
A (2)3-5 celled capsule, sometimes fleshy. Displays from July to October.
Stem detail
Contain 2 to 4(up to 6) ridges on newer growth, smooth and rounded on older growth.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
Southeastern United States
Distribution
North Carolina south to Florida and west to Alabama.