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Hypericum androsaemum
tutsan
Western and southern Europe, North Africa, western Asia
Overview
Hypericum androsaemum is a semi-evergreen shrub 50-100 cm (20-39 in) tall and about as wide, with upright, two-edged reddish stems and opposite, broadly oval leaves 5-10 cm (2-4 in) long that smell faintly of curry when crushed. From early summer it bears small yellow flowers 1.5-2 cm (0.6-0.8 in) across with a central tuft of long stamens. The flowers are followed by rounded berry-like capsules that ripen from green through red to glossy purple-black, often with several colour stages present at once. It forms a rounded, twiggy bush that self-seeds freely in shade and can spread into a thicket in damp woodland. The leaves persist through mild winters and drop in hard cold. Foliage contains hypericin and can cause photosensitivity in grazing livestock, and the ripe berries are reported to cause mild stomach upset if eaten. It tolerates dry shade once established but flowers more sparsely there than in lighter positions.
Native Range
Hypericum androsaemum is native to western and southern Europe, North Africa, and western Asia, including the British Isles. It grows in damp woodland, shady hedge banks, and ravines, usually on moist, humus-rich soils. It is not native to North America, where it is grown as an ornamental and has locally naturalised.Suggested Uses
Planted as low informal cover in shaded shrub borders, woodland edges, and dry shade beneath trees. Used in wildlife gardens where the berries feed birds in autumn. Its self-seeding and rust susceptibility make it better suited to naturalistic than formal plantings.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height1'8" - 3'3"
Width/Spread2' - 3'3"
Reaches mature size in approximately 3 years
Bloom Information
Flowering runs from June to August. The yellow stamen-tufted flowers open in succession at the stem tips. Berry-like capsules form from midsummer and colour up from green to red to purple-black through autumn, often outlasting the foliage.
Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
Mid-greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 2-6 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Grow Hypericum androsaemum in moist, humus-rich soil in partial to full shade, where it copes with dry shade once its roots are down. It tolerates a range of soils and pH but flowers more freely with some light. The shrub is hardy to about USDA zone 6 and needs no winter protection in temperate gardens. Cut stems back hard in early spring to keep the habit compact and renew growth. It self-seeds readily, so clear ripe berries where seedlings are unwanted. Rust disease can spot and disfigure the foliage in damp seasons.Pruning
Cut all stems back to 15-30 cm (6-12 in) in early spring to renew the foliage and shape the bush. Remove dead or rust-spotted wood as it appears through the season. Trim off spent flower and berry stems to limit self-sowing.Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 5 gallons