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| Feature Flowering Shrub: St. John's Wort |
Welcome to This Month in the Garden. This month we feature St. John's Wort. Hardy in USDA zones 5-8, St. John's Wort a semi-evergreen flowering shrub that comes in a variety of cultivars ranging in size from 2-3 feet tall by wide up to 6 feet tall with a spread of 3-6 feet in width. In its native form, Hypericum perforatum (St. John's Wort) is renowned for its medicinal properties and contains various active compounds, including hypericin, hyperforin and flavonoids, which are believed to possess unique antidepressant and anti-inflammatory qualities. As a topical, it is used to treat wounds, burns, muscle ache and bruising. St. John's Wort has been used throughout European medicine as far back as the ancient Greeks to treat a variety of conditions, including insomnia, depression, anxiety reduction, and nerve related pain.
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| Hypericum x inodorum 'Magical Universe' (St. John's Wort) Summer |
While the seeds and berries are considered toxic, the flowers, leaves and stems of the plant are typically harvested during the height of the bloom season. At that time they are dried thoroughly to remove moisture, extracted and infused in a solvent, such as alcohol or olive oil, then further filtered to obtain a clear liquid extract, which is then prepared as an herbal tea, tincture, capsule or tablet form. The final product is stored in dark glass bottles to protect the herb from light and preserve its medicinal properties.
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| Hypericum x inodorum 'Magical Universe' (St. John's Wort) Late-Summer |
Today's feature variety, 'Magical Universe' is a hybrid, dwarf cultivar with deep green foliage and small, bright yellow blooms starting in June, followed by fruit that deepens to deep red in fall. Staying at a more compact size of 2-3 feet tall by wide, St. John's Wort 'Magical Universe' prefers a location with full sun to partial shade in well-drained soil with moderate watering. A location with bright morning sun and late afternoon shade is ideal. While this form of St. John's Wort is not considered medicinal, its lovely bright yellow blooms and red ornamental berries bring interest to the landscape throughout the seasons. As its foliage turns to a deeper burgundy in fall and the red berries dry, the plant adds a decorative touch even into winter. St. John's Wort is known to be drought tolerant once established, able to withstand a variety of soil types and is deer resistant. Other varieties of St. John's Wort include, but are not limited to, Hypericum 'Hidcote', 'Magical Midnight Glow' and 'Blue Velvet'.
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| Hypericum x inodorum 'Magical Universe' (St. John's Wort) Autumn |
I hope you enjoyed This Month in the Garden for the month of August. Be sure to stop by on the 1st. and 15th. of each month as I continue to share gardening tips, information and horticultural adventures! Also, be sure to check out my author page and books, as I share a lifetime passion of gardening!
Author: Lee @A Guide to Northeastern Gardening, © Copyright 2010-2023. All rights reserved.
Oh, I love this plant, in all its forms. Great post!
ReplyDeleteIt's good that you have this useful plant growing in your garden, Lee. I know it but it doesn't grow in my garden. Pharmacies sell alcohol tincture of St. John's wort, can be used for skin diseases.
ReplyDelete