Hypericum pulchrum (Slender St John's-wort)

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Hypericum, Genus, pulchrum, Species,

Genus & species

slender St John's-wort

Hypericaceae Western Europe

Attracts Pollinators Drought Tolerant

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

WaterLow · drought-tolerant

HardinessZones 5–8

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

Separated from other Hypericum species by heart-shaped, stem-clasping leaves and slender red-tinged stems. The flower petals and sepals carry black marginal glands, and the buds are reddish before opening. Flowers are 0.4-0.6 inch (10-15 mm) across in open branched clusters. The hairless foliage and translucent leaf dots distinguish it from the hairy H. hirsutum.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height1' - 2'

Width/Spread8" - 1'

Colors

Flower Colors

yellow

Foliage Colors

green

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~5 weeks

Flowers: June–August

Summer

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

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 Range4.5 - 6.5 (Acidic to neutral)

3579

Soil Types

loam sand peat

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Low

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Grows in full sun to light shade on free-draining acid to neutral soils and tolerates poor, low-nutrient ground. Established plants withstand summer drought but flower less in prolonged dry spells. It is raised from seed sown in autumn or spring, or by division of the rootstock in spring. Watering is rarely needed once plants are established in temperate climates. The species is sensitive to lime and grows poorly on chalky 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.