Hypericum prolificum (Shrubby St. John’s Wort)

Hypericum prolificum (Shrubby St. John’s Wort) is an upright deciduous shrubby perennial of compact, rounded habit with showy, bright yellow flowers, 1 in. wide (2.5 cm), adorned with a prominent bouquet of yellow stamens. Blooming profusely from early to late summer, the blossoms are borne singly or in few-flowered clusters and cover the shrub. They give way to interesting cone-shaped dry pods which split in the fall and persist all winter. Densely branched, its stout, stiff, erect stems are clothed with smooth, lance-shaped, dark blue-green leaves, 2-3 in. long (5-7 cm), that turn yellow-green in fall. The bark of older stems exfoliates to reveal attractive, pale orange inner bark. Useful in the shrub border, this shrub adapts to a variety of moisture regimes and is even flood tolerant.

• Grows up to 1-4 ft. tall and wide (30-120cm).
• A full sun to part shade lover, this plant is easily grown in medium moisture, well-drained soils. Tolerates a wide range of soils, including dry rocky or sandy soils. Some drought tolerance once established.
• Low maintenance, this plant is also generally pest and disease free. Keep an eye out for root rot and wilt in hot and humid climates. Deer resistant.
• Perfect for banks and slopes, shrub borders or as a hedge.
• Prune in early spring as this plant blooms on new growth. Seeds can be used for propagation but softwood cuttings, which root easily, are the usual method.
• Ingestion may cause severe discomfort
• Native to central and eastern North America.