Common St. Johnswort
Hypericum perforatum
- Native to:
- Albania, Austria, Baltic States, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, China, Cyprus, Czechia-Slovakia, Denmark, East Aegean Is., Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kirgizstan, Krym, Morocco, Netherlands, North Caucasus, Norway, NW. Balkan Pen., Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye, Ukraine
Didier Descouens
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Hypericaceae
- Genus:
- Hypericum
- Species:
- Hypericum perforatum
- USDA Symbol:
- HYPE
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Forb/herb
- Height:
- 100 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- High
- Bloom Months:
- jun,jul,aug,sep
- Bloom Colors:
- yellow
Wildlife Benefits
- Bees:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
- Butterflies & Moths:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (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
Acleris aenigmana, Agonopterix hyperella, Agonopterix lythrella, Agonopterix nubiferella, black-shaded platynota (Platynota flavedana), Catocaline Dart (Cryptocala acadiensis), gray half-spot (Nedra ramosula), Hyppa xylinoides, Melanchra assimilis, Nedra stewarti, Nedra tropicalis, parallel-banded leafroller (Choristoneura parallela), sparganothis fruitworm moth (Sparganothis sulfureana), Zosteropoda hirtipes
Reported Fauna Sightings
Bees: Black and (Bombus auricomus), Black-tailed bumble bee (Bombus melanopygus), Bombus Latreille, Central bumble bee (Bombus centralis), Common eastern (Bombus impatiens), Fuzzy-horned bumble bee (Bombus mixtus), Hunt's bumble bee (Bombus huntii), Indiscriminate cuckoo bumble bee (Bombus insularis), Nearctic Bumble (Bombus vancouverensis), Nevada bumble bee (Bombus nevadensis), Northern amber (Bombus borealis), Obscure bumble bee (Bombus caliginosus), 🛑Rusty-patched bumble (Bombus affinis), Sitka bumble bee (Bombus sitkensis), Two-form bumble bee (Bombus bifarius), Two-spotted bumble (Bombus bimaculatus), van Dyke bumble bee (Bombus vandykei), Western bumble bee (Bombus occidentalis), White-shouldered bumble bee (Bombus appositus), Yellow bumble (Bombus fervidus), Yellow head bumble bee (Bombus flavifrons), Yellow-faced bumble bee (Bombus vosnesenskii)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- bees, butterflies
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
- Fragrant:
- Yes
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Resprouts vigorously from root crown following fire; often increases in abundance after disturbance.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- poor, sandy, well-drained soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- prefers open, sunny habitats
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 30–90 days
- Germination Time:
- 14–42 days
- Notes:
- Seeds require light for germination; surface sow and do not cover. Cold stratification improves germination rates.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI
ORGHPS Germination Guide: Sow @ 10C.