• Photo of Hypericum calycinum (Hypericum calycinums)

Plant Profile: Hypericum calycinum

Taxonomy: Hypericum calycinum

Names

Aaron's Beard, St. John's Wort

  • Photo of Hypericum calycinum (Hypericum calycinums)

Phonetic Spelling:hy-PER-ih-kum ka-lee-SIN-um

Genus:Hypericum

Species:calycinum

Family:Hypericaceae

Ideal for steep inclines or sandy terrains, this plant propagates through underground stems and exhibits moderate resistance to drought. It thrives best in fertile, loamy, well-drained acidic soils.

Belonging to the Hypericaceae family (also known as Guttifereae), this species can be identified quickly as either a deciduous or evergreen shrub, a small tree, or an herb.

The genus Hypericum encompasses approximately 400 species, which range from herbs to shrubs and trees, each with varying blooming periods and cultural needs.

Specifically, H. calycinum is a herbaceous, shrub-like variety that reaches up to 0.5 meters in height. It features 4-angled stems and evergreen foliage (unless under stress), with leaves that are ovate-oblong and measure 2-4 inches. This species produces large yellow flowers with five petals and five sepals, adorned with numerous upright stamens that create a fluffy appearance. It typically blooms in the summer and is often utilized as ground cover.

Hypericum calycinum Feature Summary

Hypericum calycinum Image Gallery

Tags

#evergreen
#drought tolerant
#low growing
#purple leaves
#yellow flowers
#slopes
#spreading
#groundcover
#fantz
#sandy soils tolerant

Similar Plants

Hypericum calycinum Feature Summary

Fruit
A (2)3-5 celled capsule, sometimes fleshy.
Flowers
Single 3 inch yellow flowers. Solitary or cymose, terminal or axillary. Yellow (usually) 5-petaled (rarely 4), 5 sepals (rarely 4); stamens numerous, in bundles or in showy boss;
Gold/Yellow
Spring
Summer
Leaves
3-4 inches long medium to dark green leaves; bluish green below; purplish fall color. Opposite or whorled, decussate, simple, entire; sessile or petiole short.
Green
Blue
Purple/Lavender
Opposite
Whorled
3-6 inches
Stem
Contain 2 to 4(up to 6) ridges on newer growth, smooth and rounded on older growth.
Whole Plant Traits
Ground Cover
Spreading
Medium
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Acid (<6.0)
6a
6b
7a
7b
8b
8a
9a
9b
10a
10b
Loam (Silt)
Landscape

Hypericum calycinum Fruit

Hypericum calycinum: Fruit Description

A (2)3-5 celled capsule, sometimes fleshy.

Hypericum calycinum: Fruit Type

Achene
Aggregate
Berry
Capsule
Caryopsis
Drupe
Follicle
Legume
Nut
Pome
Samara
Schizocarp
Siliqua

Hypericum calycinum Flowers

Hypericum calycinum: Flower Description

Single 3 inch yellow flowers. Solitary or cymose, terminal or axillary. Yellow (usually) 5-petaled (rarely 4), 5 sepals (rarely 4); stamens numerous, in bundles or in showy boss;

Hypericum calycinum: Flower Color

filter_vintage
Gold/Yellow

Hypericum calycinum: Flower Inflorescence

Catkin
Corymb
Cyme
Head
Insignificant
Panicle
Raceme
Solitary
Spadix
Spike
Umbel

Hypericum calycinum: Flower Bloom Time

Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall

Hypericum calycinum Leaves

Hypericum calycinum: Leaf Description

3-4 inches long medium to dark green leaves; bluish green below; purplish fall color. Opposite or whorled, decussate, simple, entire; sessile or petiole short.

Hypericum calycinum: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Hypericum calycinum: Leaf Color

spa
Blue
spa
Green
spa
Purple/Lavender

Hypericum calycinum: Leaf Type

Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple

Hypericum calycinum: Leaf Arrangement

Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled

Hypericum calycinum: Leaf Margin

Crenate
Crenulate
Dentate
Denticulate
Doubly Crenate
Doubly Dentate
Doubly Serrate
Entire
Lobed
Serrate
Sinuate
Undulate

Hypericum calycinum: Hairs Present

No
Yes

Hypericum calycinum: Leaf Length

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches

Hypericum calycinum Stem

Hypericum calycinum: Stem Description

Contain 2 to 4(up to 6) ridges on newer growth, smooth and rounded on older growth.

Hypericum calycinum: Stem Is Aromatic

No
Yes

Hypericum calycinum Whole Plant Traits

Hypericum calycinum: Plant Type

Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower

Hypericum calycinum: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Hypericum calycinum: Habit/Form

Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping

Hypericum calycinum: Growth Rate

Slow
Medium
Rapid

Hypericum calycinum: Texture

Fine
Medium
Coarse

Hypericum calycinum Cultural Conditions

Hypericum calycinum: Light

Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

Hypericum calycinum: Soil pH

Acid (<6.0)
Alkaline (>8.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)

Hypericum calycinum: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

thermostat
10a
thermostat
10b
thermostat
6a
thermostat
6b
thermostat
7a
thermostat
7b
thermostat
8a
thermostat
8b
thermostat
9a
thermostat
9b

Hypericum calycinum: Soil Texture

Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky

Hypericum calycinum Landscape

Hypericum calycinum: Landscape Location

Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland