plant

St John's wort

Hypericum perforatum

Updated 8 Jul 2026 · AI-parsed entry

St John's wort (Hypericum perforatum) — a plant, for Full sun, Low water.

What it needs & gives back

↓ Needs

Sunlightfull sun to partial shade
Waterlow to medium

↑ Gives back

Biomassmedium
Nectarattracts pollinators

Through the year

Emergence

Emergence of new shoots in spring after the last frost and when soil temperatures rise above 50C.

Flowering

Flowering typically begins in early summer, around June, as day length is lengthening.

Fruiting

Fruiting follows flowering, with berries developing approximately 30 days after the onset of flowering.

Senescence

Senescence occurs with the first autumn frosts, leading to dieback of aerial parts.

Dormancy

Enters dormancy after the first autumn frosts, overwintering as a perennial rootstock.

Timing is relative to your local season (temperate Northern Hemisphere).

Soil interactions

Drainagewell-drained
Nitrogen fixingNo
MycorrhizalYes
Accumulatespotassium, calcium, magnesium
Soil texturesandy, loamy, clay
Organic matterMedium
Compaction toleranceMedium

Propagation

Methodsseed, division
Difficulty2 / 5
Establishes in~1 yr
Stratificationcold stratification recommended for improved germination
Self-seedingModerate
Divisionspring_or_autumn

Wildlife & pests

Attractsbees, butterflies, hoverflies