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Search for native plants by scientific name, common name or family. If you are not sure what you are looking for, try the Combination Search or our Recommended Species lists.

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Hypericum prolificum (Shrubby st. john's-wort)
Cressler, Alan

Hypericum prolificum

Hypericum prolificum L.

Shrubby St. John's-wort

Clusiaceae (Mangosteen Family)

Synonym(s): Hypericum spathulatum

USDA Symbol: HYPR

USDA Native Status: L48 (N), CAN (N)

Shrubby St. John’s-wort is a small, mound-shaped, deciduous shrub, often to 3 ft. tall, with dense, upright branching and exfoliating, red to purple bark. Smooth, dark- to blue-green, fine-textured foliage becomes yellow-green in fall. Large, yellow flowers occur singly or in few-flowered clusters. A dry, dehiscent, three-valved capsule persists all winter.

This shrub adapts to a variety of moisture regimes and is even flood tolerant. It has no serious disease or insect problems. This species is pH adaptable but does extremely well in calcareous sites.

 

From the Image Gallery

15 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Shrub
Leaf Retention: Deciduous
Fruit Type: Capsule
Size Notes: Up to about 6 feet tall, often shorter.
Leaf: Green

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Yellow
Bloom Time: Jun , Jul , Aug , Sep

Distribution

USA: AL , AR , CT , DC , DE , FL , GA , IA , IL , IN , KY , LA , MA , MD , ME , MI , MN , MO , MS , NC , NJ , NY , OH , OK , PA , RI , SC , TN , TX , VA , VT , WI , WV
Canada: ON , QC
Native Distribution: NY to s. MI & IA, s. to GA, LA & OK
Native Habitat: Sandy, open woods; meadows; seepage slopes

Growing Conditions

Water Use: High
Light Requirement: Part Shade , Shade
Soil Moisture: Dry , Moist
Soil pH: Circumneutral (pH 6.8-7.2)
CaCO3 Tolerance: Low
Soil Description: Dry, rocky soils.

Benefit

Use Wildlife: Intermediate.
Conspicuous Flowers: yes

Propagation

Description: Seeds can be used for propagation but softwood cuttings, which root easily, are the usual method.
Seed Treatment: Seeds require no special treatment.
Commercially Avail: yes

Mr. Smarty Plants says

Groundcover to reduce erosion for shady area in New York
May 05, 2009
We live on a lake with gravelly and clay soils, lots of wind and little sun. I am looking for a native ground cover that will help reduce erosion over some of the steep slopes facing south (under shad...
view the full question and answer

Evergreen native shrubs for poor drainage area in Cedar Hill, TX
March 21, 2008
Hi! I have one (big!) bed in on the front of my house. Due to the way the house/motorcourt is built, that area (when it rains as much as it did last year!) doesn't drain well. I now have to replac...
view the full question and answer

National Wetland Indicator Status

Region:AGCPAKAWCBEMPGPHIMWNCNEWMVE
Status: FAC FACU FACU FACU FACU
This information is derived from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers National Wetland Plant List, Version 3.1 (Lichvar, R.W. 2013. The National Wetland Plant List: 2013 wetland ratings. Phytoneuron 2013-49: 1-241). Click here for map of regions.

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:

Mt. Cuba Center - Hockessin, DE

Web Reference

Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter

Additional resources

USDA: Find Hypericum prolificum in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Hypericum prolificum in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Hypericum prolificum

Metadata

Record Modified: 2023-02-14
Research By: TWC Staff

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