A native of partly shaded, moist sites in woodlands, woodland edges as well as along riparian areas. The exfoliating bark and attractive seed capsules add winter interest to the landscape. A landscape workhorse, St. John’s wort is a champion at providing food and shelter to wildlife—especially pollinators—as well as adding blossoms, colorful foliage, and great texture to entry gardens, foundation plantings, perennial beds, and mixed shrub borders. The name, Hypericum, comes from the Greek hyper and eikon meaning “over an apparition” as people believed the plant had power over evil spirits. St. John's wort is a type of herbaceous plant that belongs to the family Hypericaceae. Summer rains are particularly effective in allowing the plant to grow vegetatively, following defoliation by insects or grazing. Omissions? Creeping Saint-John’s-wort bears pale yellow flowers with orange stamens on 30-cm- (1-foot-) tall plants, while goldencup Saint-John’s-wort has slightly smaller deep yellow flowers with darker stamens. A dense little shrub with stiff erect stems and forest green leaves. The bright yellow flowers with a profusion of yellow stamens look like fireworks. St. John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum) is a flowering plant. St. John's wort is available as a supplement in teas, tablets, liquids and topical preparations.St. Great St. John's Wort is a tall, upright bushy native. It is poisonous to grazing animals and can cause photosensitization, behavioral changes, spontaneous abortion, and death. Also useful for stabilizing embankments. The popular herbal therapy is often used to … St. John’s wort, botanically known as Hypericum perforatum, is a wild plant native to Europe and Asia. It typically blooms very near to the summer solstice, which is a useful identifier as to the best time to harvest the aerial parts with their sunny yellow flowers. Scientific Name: Hypericum perforatum L. ( ITIS) Common Name: St. Johnswort, St. John's wort, common St. Johnswort, Klamath weed, common goatweed, tipton weed. They are common throughout Florida, and they … St. John's wort is a perennial plant native to Europe but found throughout the United States and parts of Canada. In the genus Hypericum are the shrubby St. John’s-Worts. Native Range: Central and eastern North America, Tolerate: Drought, Erosion, Clay Soil, Black Walnut. Very showy, bright yellow 1 in. But, given it is a shrub, and a perennial, plan on pampering your young plants for at least 3 years, possibly more, before you start seeing blooms. Mass or group in the shrub border or native plant garden. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. Also tolerates some drought. Features 5-petaled, bright yellow flowers (to 1" diameter) with numerous, yellow stamens. Great St. John's Wort ~ Hypericum ascyron (pyramidatum) Great St. John's Wort is the showiest Hypericum species in the midwest.The large bright yellow, 5 parted flowers are over 2" in width. St. John’s wort is the best-known midsummer plant. Although not native to Australia and long considered a weed, St. John’s wort is now grown there as a crop, and today Australia produces 20 percent of the world’s supply. Several species are cultivated for their attractive flowers, and at least one, common Saint-John’s-wort (Hypericum perforatum), is important in herbalism. Blooms on new growth. flowers from June-August. Roundpod St. John's-wort, also spelled St. Johnswort, is a Florida native found throughout the state, and a farily common one at that. The flowers are used to make liquid extracts, pills, and teas. Cone-shaped seed capsules split in autumn to release black seeds. A profusion of bright yellow flowers appear in summer and are effective for a couple of weeks. Updates? It can be found growing on roadsides, sparse bushes, embankments and even on rubbish dumps. It's also native to the Southeast, from North Carolina to Texas. One of the most well-known species is the common, or perforated, Saint-John’s-wort (H. perforatum), which is native to Europe, northern Africa, and western Asia. The plant is used in herbal medicine as a treatment for depression, and there is some limited clinical evidence of its efficacy. Common St. John's-wort can be quite invasive, forming dense colonies and crowding out native plants. It is native to Europe and is the St. John’s Wort most notable for its medicinal properties. Easily grown in average, medium, well-drained soil in full sun to part shade. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Bark of older stems exfoliates to reveal attractive, pale orange inner bark. … It has yellow, star-shaped flowers. Shrubby St. John's Wort Hypericum prolificum St. John's Wort family (Hypericaceae) Description: This shrubby perennial wildflower is abundantly branched and 2-4' tall. Features 5-petaled, bright yellow flowers (to 1\" diameter) with numerous, yellow stamens. It generally reaches a height of 0.3 to 0.61 m, except on the Pacific coast where it has attained heights of 1.5 m.Awang 1991 The plant has oval-shaped leaves and yields golden-yellow flowers that bloom from June to September. Native: Introduced: Both: Absent/Unreported: Native, No County Data: Introduced, No County Data: ... coastal plain St. Johnswort Hypericum buckleii Buckley's St. Johnswort Hypericum calycinum ... Atlantic St. John's-Wort Hypericum tetrapetalum fourpetal St. Johnswort Hypericum uralum . St. John’s wort is a powerful herbal compound that’s been used to treat depression with the same efficacy and fewer side effects than traditional antidepressants. 3 Photos. The fruits are nearly always dry capsules. St.-Andrew’s-cross (H. hypericoides) is cultivated as an ornamental shrub for its yellow flowers. Hypericum prolificum, commonly called shrubby St. John's wort, is a Missouri native plant that occurs on rocky ground, dry wooded slopes, uncultivated fields, gravel bars along streams and in low, moist valleys. Each stem is light green, glabrous, 4-angled, and slightly winged on the angles. The erect stems are unbranched, except in the upper-third of each plant. The Garden wouldn't be the Garden without our Members, Donors and Volunteers. Great St. John's Wort's native habitat includes mesic to wet areas, along the edges of wetlands and lakes. In the … Native To: Eurasia and North Africa ( Zouhar 2004) Date of U.S. Introduction: 1700s ( Zouhar 2004) Means of Introduction: It gets its name from the fact that it often blooms on the birthday of the biblical John the Baptist.The flowers and leaves of St. John's wort contain active ingredients such as hyperforin. The seeds can persist for decades in the soil seed bank, germinating following disturbance. The flowers are mostly five-petalled and yellow. pyramidatum is present in North America. Brown seed pods form in September and remain on the plant all winter. Can be grown as a hedge. Stamens are bushy to the point of partially obscuring the petals (hence the species name of prolificum which refe… Flowers appear in terminal or axillary clusters (cymes) from early to mid summer. The lower stems are woody with shredded gray-brown bark, while the upper stems are green and slightly winged on opposite sides. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Save 30% off a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. St. John’s wort is native to Europe, West Asia, North Africa, Madeira and the Azores, and is naturalized in many parts of the world, particularly North America and Australia. Steyermark lists this plant as Hypericum spathulatum.Genus name comes from the Greek words hyper meaning above and eikon meaning picture in reference to the practice of hanging flowers from this genus above images, pictures or windows.Specific epithet means many or prolific in reference to the many stamens.Plants of the genus Hypericum (some species have been used since ancient times in the treatment of wounds and inflammations) were apparently gathered and burned to ward off evil spirits on the eve of St. John's Day, thus giving rise to the genus common name of St. John's wort. It tolerates full sun locations but prefers partially shaded locations. Basic Description. Corrections? St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum) is a flowering shrub native to Europe. Summary. Hypericum prolificum, commonly called shrubby St. John's wort, is a Missouri native plant that occurs on rocky ground, dry wooded slopes, uncultivated fields, gravel bars along streams and in low, moist valleys. Even its name comes from the St John’s Day on June 24. Giant St. John's Wort Hypericum ascyron Hypericaceae (St. John's Wort family) Description: This herbaceous perennial wildflower is 3-5' tall. Also, the herbal supplement St. John’s wort can alter the metabolism of drugs such as protease inhibitors, anticlotting drugs, and antidepressants, and it can reduce the effectiveness of oral contraceptives.…, Several herbs, especially St.-John’s-wort and yarrow, are potent against fairies, and hawthorn trees, foxglove, and groundsel are so dear to them that abuse of these plants may bring retribution.…. Root rot and wilt can be significant problems in hot and humid climates. According to Flora of North America, there are at least 3 subspecies of Hypericum ascyron, but apparently only subsp. They grow in the open edges and sandy shores of ponds and lakes, in wet flatwoods. Stamens are bushy to the point of partially obscuring the petals (hence the species name of prolificum which refers to the stamens). It is an aggressive weed that grows in the dry ground of roadsides, meadows, woods, and hedges. Beyond its use in depression, it’s been explored as a treatment for chronic fatigue and it appears to exert some anti-inflammatory effects as well. Seed pods can be used in dried floral arrangements. The St. John’s wort plant is native to Europe, but is commonly found in the United States and Canada in the dry ground of roadsides, meadows and woods. Several species are commonly known as St. John’s-Wort. This plant is native to Europe, but it can be found around the world today. St. Johns Wort is a perennial flowering plant native to many parts of Europe and the U.S. In the western United States, where it is commonly known as Klamath weed, certain beetle species (Chrysolina quadrigemina, C. hyperici, and Agrilus hyperici) have been introduced in many locations to eat the plants and keep them under control. The plant spreads asexually by creeping rhizomes and readily reseeds itself with seeds that can persist for years in the soil seed bank. Shrubby St. John's wort is a low to medium-sized native shrub reaching 3 to 4 feet high. Depending on environmental and climatic conditions, and rosette age, St John's wort will alter growth form and habit to promote survival. Overview Information St. John's wort is a plant with yellow, star-shaped flowers and five petals that grows in Europe, North and South America, Australia, New Zealand, and Eastern Asia. Yes, surprisingly this native shrub is quite easy to start from seed and fairly fast growing thereafter. In Ownbey and Morley's plant atlas Vascular Plants of Minnesota, published in 1991, there were only a dozen records in 8 counties. This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/plant/Hypericum, Healthline - St. John’s Wort: The Benefits and the Dangers. St. John’s wort is native to Europe, West Asia, North Africa, Madeira and the Azores, and is naturalized in many parts of the world, notably North America and Australia. St John's wort reproduces both vegetatively and sexually. It has been used for centuries for its pharmacologic properties in fighting depression, insomnia and anxiety, and for promoting weight loss. Roadside infestations have become a common sight. Dark green, lance-shaped leaves are 2-3" long. Ring in the new year with a Britannica Membership - Now 30% off. St. John’s wort, sometimes known as St. Joan’s wort, (Hypericum perforatum) is one sign that summer has indeed arrived. Saint-John’s-wort, (genus Hypericum), genus of nearly 500 species of herbs or low shrubs in the family Hypericaceae that are native to temperate and tropical areas. Creeping Saint-John’s-wort (H. calycinum), sometimes known as rose of Sharon or Aaron’s-beard, and goldencup Saint-John’s-wort (H. patulum) are both shrubby East Asian species. Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Creeping Saint-John’s-wort bears pale yellow flowers with orange stamens on 30-cm- (1-foot-) tall plants, while goldencup Saint-John’s-wort has slightly smaller deep yellow flowers with darker stamens. St. John’s wort is a member of the genus Hypericum, of which there are 400 species worldwide, and a member of the St. John’s wort family, Hypericaceae. In the days around the summer solstice St. John’s wort opens its bright yellow flowers. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. St. John's wort is an herb also known as Amber, Barbe de Saint-Jean, Chasse-diable, Demon Chaser, Fuga Daemonum, Goatweed, Hardhay, Herbe à la Brûlure, Herbe à Mille Trous, Herbe Aux Fées, Herbe Aux Mille Vertus, Herbe Aux Piqûres, Herbe de Saint Éloi, Herbe de la Saint-Jean, Herbe du Charpentier, Herbe Percée, Hierba de San Juan, Hypereikon, Hyperici Herba, Hypericum perforatum, … They characteristically feature many stamens, which are often united in bundles. A compact, deciduous, rounded shrub with an erect habit that typically grows 1-4' (less frequently to 5') tall. Prune in early spring. Visitors to our yard often ask if it's a shrub because of … Native Plants Bushy St. John’s Wort. It’s traditionally harvested around St. John’s Day in … The common name stems from the fact that various European species flower around June 24, which is the feast day of St. John the Baptist; “wort” derives from an Old English word for herb or plant. Hypericum densiflorum is a great summer blooming shrub with beautiful finely-textured foliage during the growing season. The plant spreads rapidly by means of runners or from the prodigious seed production and can invade pastures, disturbed sites, dirt roads, the sides of roads and highways, and sparse woods. cause various animal health problems including severe skin lesions and necrosis when their skin becomes hypersensitive to sunlight Tolerates wide range of soils, including dry rocky or sandy soils. Appropriately dubbed by many as a magical plant, St. John’s Wort (hypericum perforatum) carries a rich history, full of cultural nuances and mystical legends.Dr. Creeping Saint-John’s-wort (H. calycinum), sometimes known as rose of Sharon or Aaron’s-beard, and goldencup Saint-John’s-wort (H. patulum) are both shrubby East Asian species. John's wort is often used to treat depression and menopausal symptoms. 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