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Hypericum hirsutum

hairy St John's-wort

Hypericaceae Europe and western Asia

Attracts Pollinators

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

WaterMedium

HardinessZones 5–8

Overview

Hypericum hirsutum is a perennial herb growing 16-43 inches (40-110 cm) tall on erect, rounded stems covered in short, soft hairs. The paired leaves are elliptical to oval, 1-2.4 inches (2.5-6 cm) long, downy on both surfaces, and dotted with translucent glands visible when held to the light. Pale yellow five-petalled flowers 0.6-0.8 inch (15-20 mm) across open in branched terminal clusters; the sepals are edged with black glands borne on short stalks. Flowering occurs from midsummer into early autumn. Dry conical capsules follow and split to release numerous small seeds. The plant grows from a woody-based rootstock into upright clumps and dies back to ground level in winter, with new shoots emerging in spring. It grows as scattered plants on calcareous soils and woodland edges rather than forming dense stands. Lower leaves may yellow and drop in dry summers.

Native Range

Native to Europe and western Asia, from the British Isles east to Siberia and south to the Mediterranean. Grows in open woodland, scrub, hedge banks, and rough grassland, usually on damp, base-rich or calcareous soils.

Suggested Uses

Grown in wildflower meadows, woodland edges, and naturalistic plantings on chalk and limestone soils. Suited to informal grassland and scrub margins where it grows among other perennials. Rarely used in formal borders because of its tall, open habit.

How to Identify

Separated from other Hypericum spp. species by downy, hairy stems and leaves, where H. pulchrum and most relatives are hairless. The sepals carry black glands on short stalks along their margins. Pale yellow flowers are 0.6-0.8 inch (15-20 mm) across in branched clusters. Leaves are elliptical, 1-2.4 inches (2.5-6 cm) long, with translucent dots.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height1'4" - 3'7"

Width/Spread1' - 1'6"

Colors

Flower Colors

yellow

Foliage Colors

green

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~6 weeks

Summer

Flowers from July to September, with peak bloom in July and August. Individual plants flower over 5-7 weeks. In cooler northern sites flowering may begin in mid-July. Flowers open in sequence within each cluster, spreading the display across several weeks.

Detailed Descriptions

Foliage Description

green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

Requires 4-8 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

Soil Requirements

pH Range6.5 - 8.0(Alkaline)

357912

Soil Types

loam clay chalk

Drainagemoist

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Medium

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

1-2 years

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Grows in full sun to partial shade on damp, base-rich or calcareous soils and tolerates the dry shade of woodland edges. Established plants withstand short dry spells but flower less in prolonged drought. It is raised from seed sown in autumn or spring, or by division of the rootstock in spring. Watering is rarely needed once established in temperate climates. Unlike H. pulchrum it grows on chalk and limestone soils. Rust fungi occasionally mark the leaves in damp seasons.

Pruning

Cut dead stems to ground level in late autumn or early spring before new growth begins. No routine trimming is needed during the growing season. Removing spent flower clusters reduces self-seeding where this is not wanted.