Hidcote St. John's Wort

Light Needs

Part Sun to Full Sun

(5+ Hours Direct Sun)

Mature Height

2-4 Feet

Mature Spread

2-4 Feet

Growing Zones

5 to 8

Hidcote St. John’s wort is classified as a shrub, but is generally treated as a woody perennial. The extra large flowers of this early summer bloomer give way to bright red-orange berries in the fall. The dark green foliage remains evergreen in the warmest of the hardiness zones, giving good structure to the wintertime garden or a sloping hillside. The  mounding shape of St. John’s Wort mixes make a good contrast when planted with upright perennials such as ornamental grasses or Bearded Iris.

St. John’s Wort is rarely bothered by deer or rabbits. The large blooms will attract a wide range of native and cultivated bees for pollination. Hypericum patulum is native to East Asia, Western China, Japan and the Himalayas. It is at home in a wide range of hardiness zones from 5-8 and  is a very versatile addition to the home garden.

Hidcote St. John’s Wort Care

Virtually any soil texture and pH will support Hypericum as long as it is well drained. Hypericum makes a good ground cover on a slope and blooms best in full sun. Irrigation needs to be regular, especially during hot or dry spells. Fertilizing with a slow release, well balanced fertilizer as new growth emerges in the spring will keep growth vigorous and a lovely dark green.

The best way to care for this tiny shrub is to act like it is a perennial. This means to give it a good cutting back by half or even more at the end of summer. This hard cut back will keep Hidcote from getting spindly and woody branches. The new growth will remain compact and well behaved. An overgrown patch of St.John’s Wort that has gotten overly woody will benefit from a very hard cutback early in the summer, so that it can recover before the cold weather. Hidcote St. John’s Wort is one of a few perennials that do not divide well. Instead, leaf tip cuttings or air layering of the branches can be used to propagate.

Hidcote St. John's Wort Spacing

Hypericum patulum has a height of 2-4 feet and spread of 2-4 feet. It is a fast grower and performs better if given a bit more space when planting. A spacing of 24 -36 inches on center works well to ensure that there is good air circulation. Mass plantings will have a stronger impact than using Hypericum as a specimen plant. St. John’s Wort likes to be used as a taller ground cover in your most difficult to plant areas.

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