Northern St. Johnswort

Hypericum boreale

Native to:
Canada, Prince Edward I., United States

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Taxonomy

Division:
Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
Family:
Hypericaceae
Genus:
Hypericum
Species:
Hypericum boreale
USDA Symbol:
HYBO2

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:
Perennial
Growth Habit:
Forb/herb
Height:
40 cm
Light Requirements:
Part Shade
Drought Tolerance:
Low
Bloom Months:
jul,aug,sep
Bloom Colors:
yellow

Wildlife Benefits

Bees:
★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
Caterpillars:
★☆☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)

Keystone Species Ranking

Caterpillar Keystone:
★★★☆☆ Butterfly & moth species supported by this genus (NWF)

Host Plant for Caterpillars

gray half-spot (Nedra ramosula)

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:
bees, small insects
Deer Resistant:
Yes

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:
wet, nutrient-poor, sandy soil
pH:
5.5 - 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)
Drainage:
tolerates poor drainage
Moisture:
consistently moist
Notes:
commonly found in bogs and wet meadows

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:
Cold/moist stratification required — 30–60 days
Germination Time:
14–42 days
Notes:
Seeds require light for germination; surface sow and keep moist.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI