Hypericum pulchrum
slender St John's-wort
Overview
Hypericum pulchrum is a perennial herb growing 12-24 inches (30-60 cm) tall on slender, erect, hairless stems often flushed red. The paired leaves are heart-shaped and stem-clasping, 0.2-0.6 inch (5-15 mm) long, hairless, and marked with translucent glandular dots visible when held to the light. Yellow five-petalled flowers 0.4-0.6 inch (10-15 mm) across open in branched terminal clusters; the petals and sepals are edged with black marginal glands, and the buds are often tinged red before opening. Flowering occurs in midsummer. After flowering, small dry capsules form and split to release numerous tiny seeds. The plant grows from a slender rootstock and forms loose, upright clumps rather than spreading mats. Stems die back in autumn, with new shoots emerging the following spring. It grows as scattered plants on poor acid soils and does not form dense colonies. Lower stems may become bare as the season progresses.
Native Range
Native to western Europe, from the British Isles and Scandinavia south to Portugal and Spain. Grows on heaths, dry acid grassland, open woodland, and banks, typically on well-drained, lime-free soils from sea level to about 2,000 feet (600 m).Suggested Uses
Grown in wildflower meadows, heathland restoration, and naturalistic plantings on acid soils. Suited to informal grassland and woodland edges where it grows among grasses and other perennials. Rarely used in formal borders because of its slender, open habit.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height1' - 2'
Width/Spread8" - 1'
Bloom Information
Flowers from June to August, with peak bloom in July. Individual plants flower over 4-6 weeks. In northern and upland sites flowering may begin in early July. Flowers open in sequence within each cluster, extending the display across several weeks.
Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
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