Azores St John's wort (Hypericum foliosum)
Care, watering, light and tips for Azores 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 Azores St John's wort
Hypericum foliosum, also known as Shrubby St. John's Wort, is a deciduous or semi-deciduous shrub native to the Azores, valued for its dense foliage and abundant bright yellow flowers. It typically grows 1 to 2 meters tall and wide, forming a compact mass that makes it ideal for low hedges, borders, or as a specimen plant in temperate gardens. Its prolonged blooming period from summer to autumn adds a vibrant touch to the landscape.
Native range
Macaronesian Islands (Azores, Madeira, Canary Islands)
Care tips
It thrives in full sun to partial shade for optimal flowering and dense growth. It requires well-drained, fertile, and slightly acidic to neutral soil, tolerating a variety of soil types as long as they are not waterlogged. Water regularly during dry periods, especially in its first year, but avoid overwatering, which can lead to root rot. A common mistake is not pruning it after flowering to maintain its shape and encourage more abundant blooms the following year.
How to save a dying Azores St John's wort
- Warning signs
- Yellowish or brown, wilted leaves, premature leaf drop, lack of flowering.
- First aid
- Move to partial shade, water moderately if soil is dry, prune dry branches, and aerate the substrate.
- What kills it
- Excessive direct sun and prolonged drought, or waterlogging that rots the roots.
- Can it be saved?
- Yes, if the roots are not completely rotted and the main stem still has life.