Species common St. John's wort Guide
Common St. John's Wort (Hypericum perforatum) featuring green leaves and bright yellow flower with orange stamens

common St. John's wort

Hypericum perforatum

Cycle:

Herbaceous Perennial

Watering:

Average

Propagation:

Seed Propagation

Hardiness Zone:

3 - 8

Flowers:

Yellow Flowers

Sun:

Full sun,part shade

Soil:

Rocky , gravelly , dry, Well-drained

Fruits:

Fruits In Autumn Ready In Summer

Leaf:

Yes

Leaf Color:

green

Growth Rate:

High

Maintenance:

Low

Salt Tolerant:

Yes

Invasive:

Yes

watering

St. John’s Wort requires regular watering to thrive. Water the plant on a regular basis, once or twice per week, allowing the top few inches of soil to become dry to the touch between waterings. During periods of prolonged drought or when temperatures are especially hot, water the plant more often to prevent it from drying out. Overwatering should be avoided as St. John’s Wort prefers soil that is slightly on the dry side.

sunlight

Common St. John's Wort (Hypericum perforatum) prefers to receive full sun, typically for at least 6-8 hours per day. This plant does best when placed in a location that gets abundant morning sunlight, as well as some protection from the intense afternoon rays.It also tolerates partial shade, as long as it still gets at least 4 hours of direct sunlight each day.

pruning

Common St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum) should be pruned once per year, in late winter or early spring before new growth starts. During this time, the plant can be cut back by 1-third to 1-half of its height. This will help maintain the plant's general shape and overall size. Pruning will also eliminate any dead or damaged branches while encouraging healthy, new growth. It's important to use sharp, clean pruning shears and make sure to sterilize them between cuts to help prevent the spread of disease.