Hypericum prolificum
shrubby St. John's-wort
Overview
Hypericum prolificum is a compact, rounded deciduous shrub growing 1-4 feet (30-120 cm) tall and about as wide, with dense, upright branching. The narrow, oblong leaves are 1-3 inches (2.5-7.5 cm) long, dark green above and paler beneath, arranged in opposite pairs. Yellow flowers 0.5-1 inch (12-25 mm) across open in summer, each with five petals surrounding a dense brush of many slender stamens. Flowers are carried in clusters at the branch tips and are followed by reddish-brown, three-parted seed capsules that persist through winter. The bark on older stems peels in thin strips, exposing lighter wood beneath. It grows in rocky open woods, glades, stream banks, and fields, tolerating poor, dry soil. The dense twiggy form and persistent capsules give winter structure, though spent seed heads can look untidy without trimming. Foliage drops in autumn with little color change.
Native Range
Hypericum prolificum is native to the central and eastern United States, from New York and Iowa south to Georgia and Louisiana. It grows in rocky open woods, glades, prairies, stream banks, and old fields, often on dry or thin soils.Suggested Uses
Planted in shrub borders, foundation plantings, mixed hedges, and naturalized or rain-garden settings. It suits rocky banks and slopes for erosion control on poor soil. The summer flowers draw bees and other pollinators.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height1' - 4'
Width/Spread2' - 4'
Reaches mature size in approximately 4 years
Bloom Information
Yellow flowers open through summer, generally June to August, over a span of six to eight weeks. Each flower lasts a day or two, but new buds open in succession along the branch tips. Bloom is heaviest in full sun and lighter in shade.
Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
dark greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 5-10 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 prolificum in full sun to part shade in average to dry, well-drained soil with a pH from 5.5 to 7.5. It tolerates poor, rocky ground, drought once established, and a range of soil types, but resists wet, heavy soils. The shrub keeps a dense, rounded form with little intervention and rarely needs staking. It adapts to clay where drainage is adequate and withstands urban conditions. Plants are largely free of serious pests, though occasional leaf spot may appear in humid summers. Little feeding is needed in average soil.Pruning
Prune in late winter or early spring before new growth, since flowers form on the current season's wood. Cutting stems back by a third keeps the form dense and supports bloom. Old, overgrown plants can be cut nearly to the ground to renew them.Pruning Schedule
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
winterearly spring
Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 5 gallons