Red Fame St. John's Wort

Light Needs

Partial Sun to Full Sun

(At Least 5 Hours of Direct Sunlight)

Mature Height

2-3 Feet

Mature Spread

2-3 Feet

Growing Zones

6 to 9

Red Fame St. John's Wort, Hypericum Inodorum Red Fame, or Kalmaref is a deciduous shrub with gorgeous sprays of yellow star-shaped flowers that bloom in mid-summer. These buttercup clouds are followed by satiny, crimson berries, which is this shrub's claim to Red Fame. Both the flowers and berries are excellent in cut flower arrangements and bouquets, and are a favorite of florists due to their long vase life. Red Fame’s foliage has ovate, dark-green leaves that form into an elegant 30 to 36 inch mound with floating berries on floaty, ethereal stems.

Red Fame St. John's Wort is rust-resistant and easy-to-grow. It’s branches spread upright, and provide long-lasting color during the entire growing season. It is low-maintenance and generally pest and disease free. This shrub is deer and rabbit resistant. Grown together in mass, these delightful shrubs make stunning hedges and borders.

Red Fame St. John's Wort Care

Red Fame St. John's Wort has average water needs and is relatively drought-tolerant. It can tolerate most types of soils, but prefers moist soil with very good drainage. It should be planted in areas with full sun or partial shade, with moderate shelter from damaging winds. 

You can prune your Red Fame St. John's Wort as soon as it has finished blooming, or in late winter when the berries decline. It is ideal to cut back withered branches and leaves before fresh growth can start. In total, you should prune around one third of the total shrub. Pruning your Red Fame St. John's Wort will increase its flowering in the future. Consider a thick mulch at the base of the plant to protect it during winter months. 

Red Fame St. John's Wort Spacing

Red Fame shrubs can be grown as a single plant or in groups. They should be spaced from 24 to 36 inches apart at the center. They are a beautiful indoor, or outdoor option, and grow well in pots and containers. Because they grow upright, they should be the thriller in your container combination. They do well on banks and slopes and can prevent soil erosion.