THISISJUSTTHETONIC
St John’s wort is cheery, will pep up your plot and be with you for life
MeNTIoN st John’s wort and people think you mean anti-depression pills. When I Googled it, the first reference to the plants was on the 11th page. That’s surprising because st John’s worts are popular, beautiful and easy to grow.
Many varieties will provide glorious colour well into autumn. almost all the 400 Hypericum species have vivid yellow flowers.
The plants range from tiny alpines and taller perennials to substantial shrubs and trees. some are invasive weeds — though handy for groundcover. others are easily controlled and flower for long periods.
The intensity of yellow varies among different species and varieties. hues run from primrose through lemon to
intense gold. The stronger hues might seem bright for some tastes. each flower usually has five petals, surrounding an attractive fuzz of stamens.
The colloquial name originates from the europe’s commonest wild species, H. perforatum. That flowers in midsummer, coinciding with saint John the baptist’s feast day on June 24.
Perforate st John’s wort is also britain’s most abundant native, often seen in unspoilt meadows. square- stemmed st John’s Wort, H. tetrapterum, is also common. That favours damp or
even marshy conditions.
GOOD GROUNDCOVER
The most popular shrub variety, H. Hidcote, grows 1.2 metres high with a slightly wider spread. Young plants become attractively shaped domes with daffodil yellow flowers from midsummer into september.
as well as free- standing shrubs, woody hypericums can be grown as informal hedging.
When choosing varieties for that, check height and hardiness — some are borderline.
The most popular variety for groundcover is H. calycinum. also called aaron’s beard or rose of sharon, this is a vigorous spreader. The plant is excellent for groundcover in shade.
but once planted, it’s with you for life. The roots creep into hedge bottoms and along border-backs. once established, those roots are difficult to dig out. For cut flowers and outdoor displays, Hypericum x inodorum is an enchanting cross-breed. Growing 1.2m high with a similar spread, this makes an eye-catching feature shrub. The flowers develop as clusters on stems. Late flowers open among reddish fruits which replaced the earlier blooms.
They frequently appear in florists’ shops. but they’re even prettier in a garden.
FOR SMALL PLACES
aMoNG small hypericums H. cerastioides is a charmer. Growing no higher than 15cm, the plant develops a compact, yellow and grey mat.
The flowers, from mid-spring to early summer, are an intense lemon contrasting with silvergrey leaves.
For a sunny wild garden or flower meadow, H. perforatum prospers in most soils. another species, H. pulchrum, suits dry, sunny banks.
For rock gardens, H. reptans is also a charmer. Mats of foliage become crowded with cup- shaped yellow flowers in summer. The leaves turn red each autumn. Wild species may be hard to find, but they’re worth looking for.