• Photo of Hypericum prolificum (Hypericum prolificums)

Plant Profile: Hypericum prolificum

Taxonomy: Hypericum prolificum

Names

Shrubby St. John's Wort, St. John's Wort

  • Photo of Hypericum prolificum (Hypericum prolificums)

Phonetic Spelling:hy-PER-ih-kum pro-LIF-ih-kum

Genus:Hypericum

Species:prolificum

Family:Hypericaceae

This plant features low, dense foliage characterized by dark green leaves that do not exhibit significant fall coloration. It grows slowly and is resilient to drought conditions. Pruning should be done in early spring.

Preferred habitats include bogs, seepages, dry rocky forests, rock outcrops, and riverside prairies.

Wildlife Value: The fruits produced by this plant are known to attract birds.

Form: It typically forms a dense mound with sturdy, upright stems and a rounded shape.

Exposure: This species can thrive in a variety of soil types and is capable of tolerating dry conditions.

Family: Hypericaceae (Guttifereae)

Quick Identification Tips:

This plant can be classified as a deciduous or evergreen shrub, a small tree, or an herb. There are approximately 400 species within the Hypericum genus, encompassing herbs, shrubs, and trees, each with varying blooming periods and cultural needs.

Hypericum prolificum Feature Summary

Hypericum prolificum Image Gallery

Tags

#deciduous
#drought tolerant
#wildlife plant
#yellow flowers
#mounding
#pollinator plant
#fantz
#food source fall
#food source herbage
#food source nectar
#food source pollen
#coastal FAC
#bird friendly
#food source hard mast fruit
#mammals
#Piedmont Mountains FACU
#bee friendly
#audubon

Similar Plants

Hypericum prolificum Feature Summary

Attributes
Heat, drought, and soil compaction tolerant.
Perennial
Fruit
A (2)3-5 celled capsule, sometimes fleshy. Displays from July to November.
Flowers
Bright yellow flowers in summer on current season's growth; dry capsules persist all winter. Solitary or cymose, terminal or axillary. Yellow (usually) 5-petaled (rarely 4), 5 sepals (rarely 4); stamens numerous, in bundles or in showy boss. Blooms from June to October.
Gold/Yellow
< 1 inch
Leaves
Dark green with no appreciable fall color. Opposite or whorled, decussate, simple, entire; sessile or petiole short.
Opposite
Whorled
1-3 inches
Stem
Contain 2 to 4(up to 6) ridges on newer growth, smooth and rounded on older growth.
Whole Plant Traits
Shrub
Native Plant
Mounding
Dense
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)
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasionally Dry
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
4a
4b
5b
5a
6a
6b
7a
7b
8b
8a
Landscape
Butterfly Garden
Pollinator Garden
Native Garden
Naturalized Area
Butterflies
Pollinators
Songbirds
Small Mammals

Hypericum prolificum Attributes

Hypericum prolificum: Wildlife Value

birds

Hypericum prolificum: Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems)

Heat, drought, and soil compaction tolerant.

Hypericum prolificum: Life Cycle

Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody

Hypericum prolificum Fruit

Hypericum prolificum: Fruit Description

A (2)3-5 celled capsule, sometimes fleshy. Displays from July to November.

Hypericum prolificum: Fruit Type

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

Hypericum prolificum: Display/Harvest Time

Fall
Spring
Summer
Winter

Hypericum prolificum Flowers

Hypericum prolificum: Flower Description

Bright yellow flowers in summer on current season's growth; dry capsules persist all winter. Solitary or cymose, terminal or axillary. Yellow (usually) 5-petaled (rarely 4), 5 sepals (rarely 4); stamens numerous, in bundles or in showy boss. Blooms from June to October.

Hypericum prolificum: Flower Color

filter_vintage
Gold/Yellow

Hypericum prolificum: Flower Inflorescence

Catkin
Corymb
Cyme
Head
Insignificant
Panicle
Raceme
Solitary
Spadix
Spike
Umbel

Hypericum prolificum: Flower Bloom Time

Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall

Hypericum prolificum: Flower Size

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

Hypericum prolificum Leaves

Hypericum prolificum: Leaf Description

Dark green with no appreciable fall color. Opposite or whorled, decussate, simple, entire; sessile or petiole short.

Hypericum prolificum: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Hypericum prolificum: Leaf Color

spa
Green

Hypericum prolificum: Leaf Type

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

Hypericum prolificum: Leaf Arrangement

Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled

Hypericum prolificum: Leaf Margin

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

Hypericum prolificum: Hairs Present

No
Yes

Hypericum prolificum: Leaf Length

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

Hypericum prolificum Stem

Hypericum prolificum: Stem Description

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

Hypericum prolificum: Stem Is Aromatic

No
Yes

Hypericum prolificum Whole Plant Traits

Hypericum prolificum: 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 prolificum: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Hypericum prolificum: 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 prolificum: Growth Rate

Slow
Medium
Rapid

Hypericum prolificum: Texture

Fine
Medium
Coarse

Hypericum prolificum Cultural Conditions

Hypericum prolificum: 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 prolificum: Soil Drainage

Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry

Hypericum prolificum: NC Region

Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont

Hypericum prolificum: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

thermostat
4a
thermostat
4b
thermostat
5a
thermostat
5b
thermostat
6a
thermostat
6b
thermostat
7a
thermostat
7b
thermostat
8a
thermostat
8b

Hypericum prolificum Landscape

Hypericum prolificum: 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 prolificum: Design Feature

Accent
Barrier
Border
Flowering Tree
Foundation Planting
Hedge
Mass Planting
Screen/Privacy
Security
Shade Tree
Small groups
Small Tree
Specimen
Street Tree
Understory Tree

Hypericum prolificum: 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 prolificum: Attracts

Bats
Bees
Butterflies
Frogs
Hummingbirds
Moths
Pollinators
Predatory Insects
Reptiles
Small Mammals
Songbirds
Specialized Bees