Hypericum perforatum: Uses (Ethnobotany)
Native Americans have been known to use this plant for medicinal purposes.
Plant Profile: Hypericum perforatum
Taxonomy: Hypericum perforatumNames
Common St. John's-wort, Goatweed, Klamath Weed, St. Johns Wort
Phonetic Spelling:hy-PER-ih-kum per-fuh-RAY-tum
Genus:Hypericum
Species:perforatum
Family:Hypericaceae
Origin: Europe
Ecological Role: Enhances wildlife habitats
Important Consideration: May become invasive
Common Locations: Found along roadsides, in fields, and in disturbed areas
Geographic Distribution: Present in the Northwest, Rocky Mountains, Southwest, Southeast, and Northeast regions
Botanical Family: Hypericaceae (Guttifereae)
Identification Tips:
This plant can be a deciduous or evergreen shrub, a small tree, or an herb. The genus Hypericum comprises approximately 400 species, which vary in their blooming periods and cultural needs.
Hypericum perforatum Feature Summary
Hypericum perforatum Image Gallery
Tags
#yellow flowers
#nectar plant
#playground
#children's garden
#pollinator plant
#wildflower garden
#fantz
#problem for cats
#problem for dogs
#problem for horses
Similar Plants
Hypericum perforatum Feature Summary
Attributes
Native Americans have been known to use this plant for medicinal purposes.
Perennial
Wildlife Food Source
Attracts Pollinators
Fruit
A (2)3-5 celled capsule, sometimes fleshy.
Capsule
Brown/Copper
Flowers
Yellow petals with black dots on margins; bushy stamens. 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
4-5 petals/rays
1-3 inches
Leaves
Toothless leaves dotted with tiny translucent or black glands. Opposite or whorled, decussate, simple, entire; sessile or petiole short.
Deciduous
Green
Simple
Opposite
Whorled
Entire
Stem
Contain 2 to 4(up to 6) ridges on newer growth, smooth and rounded on older growth.
Poisonous to Humans
Photosensitization (ulcerative and exudative dermatitis).
Hypericin
Whole Plant Traits
Perennial
Wildflower
Ground Cover
Deciduous
Spreading
Medium
Medium
Cultural Conditions
Good Drainage
Moist
4a
4b
5b
5a
6a
6b
7a
7b
8b
8a
Landscape
Pollinator Garden
Children's Garden
Recreational Play Area
Slope/Bank
Pollinators
Problem for Cats
Problem for Dogs
Problem for Horses
Hypericum perforatum Image Gallery
Hypericum perforatum Attributes
Hypericum perforatum: Life Cycle
Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody
Hypericum perforatum: Play Value
Attractive Flowers
Attracts Pollinators
Buffer
Colorful
Defines Paths
Easy to Grow
Edible fruit
Fragrance
Pieces Used in Games
Screening
Shade
Sound
Textural
Wildlife Cover/Habitat
Wildlife Food Source
Wildlife Larval Host
Wildlife Nesting
Wind Break
Wind Shimmer
Hypericum perforatum Fruit
Hypericum perforatum: Fruit Description
A (2)3-5 celled capsule, sometimes fleshy.
Hypericum perforatum: Fruit Type
Achene
Aggregate
Berry
Capsule
Caryopsis
Drupe
Follicle
Legume
Nut
Pome
Samara
Schizocarp
Siliqua
Hypericum perforatum: Fruit Color
Brown/Copper
Hypericum perforatum: Display/Harvest Time
Fall
Spring
Summer
Winter
Hypericum perforatum Flowers
Hypericum perforatum: Flower Description
Yellow petals with black dots on margins; bushy stamens. 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 perforatum: Flower Color
Gold/Yellow
Hypericum perforatum: Flower Inflorescence
Catkin
Corymb
Cyme
Head
Insignificant
Panicle
Raceme
Solitary
Spadix
Spike
Umbel
Hypericum perforatum: Flower Bloom Time
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Hypericum perforatum: Flower Petals
2-3 rays/petals
4-5 petals/rays
6 petals/rays
7 - 20 petals/rays
asymmetrical petals
Bracts
Colored Sepals
fused petals
more than 20 petals/rays
Tepals
Hypericum perforatum: Flower Size
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
< 1 inch
> 6 inches
Hypericum perforatum Leaves
Hypericum perforatum: Leaf Description
Toothless leaves dotted with tiny translucent or black glands. Opposite or whorled, decussate, simple, entire; sessile or petiole short.
Hypericum perforatum: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Hypericum perforatum: Leaf Color
Green
Hypericum perforatum: Leaf Type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple
Hypericum perforatum: Leaf Arrangement
Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled
Hypericum perforatum: Leaf Margin
Crenate
Crenulate
Dentate
Denticulate
Doubly Crenate
Doubly Dentate
Doubly Serrate
Entire
Lobed
Serrate
Sinuate
Undulate
Hypericum perforatum: Hairs Present
No
Yes
Hypericum perforatum Stem
Hypericum perforatum: Stem Description
Contain 2 to 4(up to 6) ridges on newer growth, smooth and rounded on older growth.
Hypericum perforatum: Stem Is Aromatic
No
Yes
Hypericum perforatum Poisonous to Humans
Hypericum perforatum: Poison Symptoms
Photosensitization (ulcerative and exudative dermatitis).
Hypericum perforatum: Poison Toxic Principle
Hypericin
Hypericum perforatum: Poison Severity
High
Low
Medium
Hypericum perforatum: Causes Contact Dermatitis
No
Yes
Hypericum perforatum Whole Plant Traits
Hypericum perforatum: 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 perforatum: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Hypericum perforatum: 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 perforatum: Growth Rate
Slow
Medium
Rapid
Hypericum perforatum: Texture
Fine
Medium
Coarse
Hypericum perforatum Cultural Conditions
Hypericum perforatum: Soil Drainage
Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry
Hypericum perforatum: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone
4a
4b
5a
5b
6a
6b
7a
7b
8a
8b
Hypericum perforatum Landscape
Hypericum perforatum: Landscape Theme
Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden
Hypericum perforatum: 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
Hypericum perforatum: Attracts
Bats
Bees
Butterflies
Frogs
Hummingbirds
Moths
Pollinators
Predatory Insects
Reptiles
Small Mammals
Songbirds
Specialized Bees
Hypericum perforatum: Problems
Allelopathic
Contact Dermatitis
Frequent Disease Problems
Frequent Insect Problems
Invasive Species
Malodorous
Messy
Poisonous to Humans
Problem for Cats
Problem for Children
Problem for Dogs
Problem for Horses
Short-lived
Spines/Thorns
Weak Wood
Weedy
