Hypericum prolificum

Many of our native shrubs do not have as nice a form as Shrubby St. John’s Wort. With a refined mounding habit that doesn’t get too tall and gangly, it holds its dense shape without pruning. This hypercicum is also valuable because of its summer blooming period from late June through August. Its showy and puffy yellow blooms have a sort of pincushion look because of their prolific stamens. Said to be under used by a number of plant people, Shrubby St. John’s Wort withstands drought and can be grown in wet conditions as well. It is also useful as a low deciduous hedge. Plants in this group get their name from the fact that they were once collected and burned to ward off evil spirits on the eve of St. John’s Day.