Native Plants
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Ask Mr. Smarty Plants
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Sunday - June 14, 2009
From: sinking spring, PA
Region: Mid-Atlantic
Topic: Herbs/Forbs
Title: Non-blooming Hypericum in Eastern Pennsylvania
Answered by: Jackie OKeefe
QUESTION:
I purchased a St. Johnswort about 3 years ago. I has never bloomed. It is alive & well. I know this since it has started to spread shoots. Is there a trick to this one? Occasionally something I plant doesn't survive, but I have never had a plant survive & not bloom. Am I missing something?ANSWER:
The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center is dedicated to disseminating information about our native species and encouraging their use in their native habitats. Here is a link to our article on the reasons why natives make sense. Since St Johns Wort is a common name that covers many varieties, we can’t be positive about the precise species you are growing; Pennsylvania has sixteen native Hypericum (St. Johns Wort) varieties, with varying habitat and growth requirements. We can try to identify it if you send us a photo. If your plant is from a nursery it may be Hypericum ‘Hidcote’, a cultivar whose parents are of European origin and out of our area of expertise. Here is a link to a web page with background on Hypericum 'Hidcote'.
Some general causes for plants not to flower follow:
Too little sun; Hypericum can grow in shade, but flowers better in sunnier locations.
A variety not well-suited to your area; nurseries often get stock from far-away suppliers in different climates.
Improper fertilization; high nitrogen fertilizers can promote green over flowering growth.
Pruning at the wrong time; probably not the problem here, but some plants bloom on new growth, others on previous seasons' growth.
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