Gardening Trees, Shrubs & Vines Shrubs St. John's Wort By Viveka Neveln Viveka Neveln Instagram Viveka Neveln is the Garden Editor at BHG and a degreed horticulturist with broad gardening expertise earned over 3+ decades of practice and study. She has more than 20 years of experience writing and editing for both print and digital media. Learn about BHG's Editorial Process Updated on August 7, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email St. John’s Wort Plant Overview Description A landscape workhorse, St. John's wort is a champion at providing food and shelter to wildlife—especially pollinators—as well as adding blossoms, colorful foliage, and great texture to entry gardens, foundation plantings, perennial beds, and mixed shrub borders. This North American native all-star shrub is easy to grow and a cinch to incorporate into almost any landscape. You're sure to delight in its sunny yellow flowers in summer and low-maintenance habit year-round. Seldom browsed by deer and rabbits, it is a great plant for landscape plagued by these munching pests. Genus Name Hypericum spp. Common Name St. John’s Wort Plant Plant Type Shrub Light Part Sun, Sun Height 1 to 3 feet Width 12 to 48 inches Flower Color Yellow Season Features Summer Bloom Special Features Attracts Birds, Cut Flowers, Low Maintenance Zones 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 Propagation Layering, Stem Cuttings Problem Solvers Deer Resistant, Drought Tolerant Where to Plant St. John's wort thrives in full sun to part shade and moist, well-drained soil. It is tolerant of a wide range of soil types, including slow-draining clay. Shrubs growing in partly shaded sites will have fewer blossoms than shrubs planted in full sun. In areas with wet winters, St. John's wort can be short-lived. If wet winters are a challenge in your area, plant St. John's wort in well-drained, sandy soil. Check out this information on well-drained soil. St. John's Wort Care Must-Knows Plant St. John's wort in spring or early summer. Blanket soil around plants with a 2-inch-thick layer of mulch and water plants regularly during the first growing season to encourage an extensive root system. Reduce watering during the second growing season. In some climates, the tips of St. John's wort branches die back in winter. Simply shear the plants back to live wood in spring and this hardy perennial will regrow. St. John's wort blooms on new growth so winter dieback is not a problem. Prune plants as needed in early spring and they will produce a large crop of flowers in summer. Every three or four years, consider renewal pruning St. John's wort. Renewal pruning involves shearing the plant back to half its height in spring. Renewal pruning encourages dense, vibrant new growth and helps the plant retain a pleasing, rounded form. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit