This Genus commonly called St. Johns Wort is far better than its common name might suggest. The specific cultivar I’m talking about was a self sown seedling at the famous garden of Hidcote in England and is obviously worth having if Lawrence Johnston said so!
This is a hardy evergreen shrub to 1.5 metres each way and could make a good look over informal hedge and is certainly a lovely shrub for the mixed border.
The flowers like pretty well all the Genus are yellow with a boss of fine stamens in the middle. The are produced from late spring until late autumn so really pay their way as a garden plant.
If it gets twiggy and scruffy with age simple shave it off at ground level and away it will go again.
The plant is supposed to keep away evil spirits so what more could you want? Flowers were once picked and placed above pictures to ward off evil in the mid summer festival of Walpurgisnacht. This pagan rite was later swallowed up by Christendom as the feast day of St. john. (24th. June). Thus the common name. So glad it isn’t called Walpurgisnacht’s Wort!
So if you are having a devil of a time in your garden perhaps you should plant a Hypericum!
I have plants in 15cm. pots as well as its Irish counterpart H. ‘Rowallane’ for $18.50
