St John's wort (Hypericum hidcoteense)
Care, watering, light and tips for St John's wort on Floravia.
Quick facts
- Family: Hypericaceae
- Difficulty: Easy to care for
- Watering: every 7 days
- Light: Partial shade
- Temperature: 10–30 °C
- Toxicity: Toxic to pets
About St John's wort
Hypericum 'Hidcote' is a medium-sized deciduous shrub, renowned for its abundant and large, bright yellow flowers that bloom from early summer into autumn. Its attractive golden blossoms make it ideal for shrub borders, rock gardens, or as a standalone specimen, adding a vibrant and long-lasting splash of color. It's a robust, fast-growing plant that beautifies any space with its prolonged flowering.
Native range
Horticultural hybrid, it does not have a specific native region.
Care tips
It prefers full sun to partial shade for optimal flowering. It requires regular watering during dry periods, especially in its first year, but is drought-tolerant once established. It adapts to a wide range of well-drained soils. A common mistake to avoid is failing to prune it annually in early spring to encourage more abundant blooming and maintain its shape.
How to save a dying St John's wort
- Warning signs
- Yellowish or brown, wilting leaves, premature flower or bud drop.
- First aid
- Move to partial shade, water if soil is dry, prune dead branches.
- What kills it
- Excessive direct sun and extreme drought without watering.
- Can it be saved?
- Yes, if you act quickly and there's no irreversible damage to the base.