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Hypericum perforatum - L.

Common Name St. John's Wort, Common St. Johnswort
Family Hypericaceae
USDA hardiness 3-10
Known Hazards Skin contact with the sap, or ingestion of the plant, can cause photosensitivity in some people[13, 76, 222]. Common side-effects are gastointestinal disturbances, allergic reactions & fatigue. If used with drugs classed as serotonin reuptake inhibitors (fluoxetine:Prozac, paroxetine:Paxil) symptoms of serotonin syndrome may occur: mental confusion, hallucinations, agitation, headache, coma, shivering, sweating, fever, hypertension, tachycardia, nausea, diarrheoa, tremors. St John's wort can reduce the effectiveness of prescription medicine inc: contraceptive pill, antidepressants, immune suppressants, HIV medications, warfarin, digoxin [301].
Habitats Open woods, hedgebanks and grassland, in dry sunny places, usually on calcareous soils[7, 17].
Range Europe, including Britain, south and east to N. Africa, the Azores, Madeira and W. Asia.
Edibility Rating    (2 of 5)
Other Uses    (2 of 5)
Weed Potential Yes
Medicinal Rating    (4 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Well drained soil Moist Soil Semi-shade Full sun
Hypericum perforatum St. John


http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hypericum_perforatum_i01.jpg
Hypericum perforatum St. John
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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Hypericum perforatum is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.9 m (3ft) by 0.6 m (2ft in).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 3. It is in flower from May to August, and the seeds ripen from July to September. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Bees, flies. The plant is self-fertile.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers dry or moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Hypericum deidesheimense, Hypericum vulgare, Hypericum lineolatum, Hypericum mixtum.

Habitats

Woodland Garden Sunny Edge; Dappled Shade; Shady Edge; Meadow; Hedgerow;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts:
Edible Uses: Tea

The herb and the fruit are sometimes used as a tea substitute[7, 183]. The flowers can be used in making mead[183].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Analgesic  Antidepressant  Antiseptic  Antispasmodic  Aromatic  Astringent  Cholagogue  Digestive  
Diuretic  Expectorant  Homeopathy  Nervine  Resolvent  Sedative  Stimulant  
Vermifuge  Vulnerary

St. John's wort has a long history of herbal use. It fell out of favour in the nineteenth century but recent research has brought it back to prominence as an extremely valuable remedy for nervous problems[254]. In clinical trials about 67% of patients with mild to moderate depression improved when taking this plant[254]. The flowers and leaves are analgesic, antiseptic, antispasmodic, aromatic, astringent, cholagogue, digestive, diuretic, expectorant, nervine, resolvent, sedative, stimulant, vermifuge and vulnerary[4, 9, 13, 21, 165, 218, 222]. The herb is used in treating a wide range of disorders, including pulmonary complaints, bladder problems, diarrhoea and nervous depression[4]. It is also very effectual in treating overnight incontinence of urine in children[4]. Externally, it is used in poultices to dispel herd tumours, caked breasts, bruising etc[4]. The flowering shoots are harvested in early summer and dried for later use[7]. Use the plant with caution and do not prescribe it for patients with chronic depression[238]. The plant was used to procure an abortion by some native North Americans, so it is best not used by pregnant women[257]. See also the notes above on toxicity[21, 222]. A tea or tincture of the fresh flowers is a popular treatment for external ulcers, burns, wounds (especially those with severed nerve tissue), sores, bruises, cramps etc[222, 238]. An infusion of the flowers in olive oil is applied externally to wounds, sores, ulcers, swellings, rheumatism etc[240]. It is also valued in the treatment of sunburn and as a cosmetic preparation to the skin[240]. The plant contains many biologically active compounds including rutin, pectin, choline, sitosterol, hypericin and pseudohypericin[222]. These last two compounds have been shown to have potent anti-retroviral activity without serious side effects and they are being researched in the treatment of AIDS[222, 238]. A homeopathic remedy is made from the fresh whole flowering plant[232]. It is used in the treatment of injuries, bites, stings etc and is said to be the first remedy to consider when nerve-rich areas such as the spine, eyes, fingers etc are injured[232].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

Dye  Tannin

Yellow, gold and brown dyes are obtained from the flowers and leaves[168]. A red is obtained from the flowers after acidification[141]. A red dye is obtained from the whole plant when infused in oil or alcohol[7, 61, 115]. A yellow is obtained when it is infused in water[7, 74, 115]. The plant is said to contain good quantities of tannin, though exact figures are not available[223].

Special Uses

Food Forest  Food Forest  Scented Plants

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Easily grown in any reasonably good well-drained but moisture retentive soil[1]. Succeeds in dry soils[238]. Plants grow well in sun or semi-shade but they flower better when in a sunny position[200]. St. John's wort is often found as a weed in the garden[1]. It grows well in the summer meadow and is a useful plant for attracting insects[24]. The whole plant, especially when in bloom, gives off a most unpleasant smell when handled[245]. Hypericum perforatum is apparently an allotetraploid that would appear to have arisen from a cross between two diploid taxa, viz. H. maculatum subsp. maculatum (Europe to western Siberia) and H. attenuatum (western Siberia to China)[266]. In garden design, as well as the above-ground architecture of a plant, root structure considerations help in choosing plants that work together for their optimal soil requirements including nutrients and water. The root pattern is rhizomatous with underground stems sending roots and shoots along their length [2-1].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

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Propagation

Seed - sow in a greenhouse as soon as it is ripe in the autumn or in the spring. It normally germinates in 1 - 3 months at 10°c. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and plant them out into their permanent positions in the summer. Division in spring or autumn[111, 238]. Very easy, larger clumps can be replanted direct into their permanent positions, though it is best to pot up smaller clumps and grow them on in a cold frame until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the spring.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Plant Search

Search over 900 plants ideal for food forests and permaculture gardens. Filter to search native plants to your area. The plants selected are the plants in our book 'Plants For Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens, as well as plants chosen for our forthcoming related books for Tropical/Hot Wet Climates and Mediterranean/Hot Dry Climates. Native Plant Search

Found In

Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Hypericum androsaemumTutsan, Sweet-amber, St. JohnswortShrub1.0 5-10 FLMHSNDM013
Hypericum ascyronGreat Saint John's WortPerennial1.5 3-7  LMHSNM12 
Hypericum attenuatum Perennial0.6 -  LMHSNDM10 
Hypericum bellum Shrub1.0 5-9  LMHSNM012
Hypericum calycinumRose Of Sharon, Aaron's beard, Creeping Aron's Beard St. JohnswortShrub0.3 5-10 FLMHFSNDM003
Hypericum erectum Perennial0.6 5-9  LMHSNM11 
Hypericum forrestii Shrub2.0 4-8  LMHSNM002
Hypericum hypericoidesSt. Andrews CrossShrub1.2 5-9  LMSNDM02 
Hypericum japonicumMatted St. John's WortAnnual/Perennial0.5 -  LMHSNMWe02 
Hypericum kamtschaticum Perennial0.3 -  LMHSNM10 
Hypericum monogynum Shrub0.7 8-11  LMHSNM02 
Hypericum patulumGoldencup St. JohnswortShrub1.0 6-7 MLMHSNM013
Hypericum sampsonii Perennial0.6 8-11  LMHSNM12 

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

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Author

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Botanical References

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Readers comment

Steve Harris   Fri Jul 16 23:51:31 2004

About the leaf smell: I think it's a wonderful smell - especially good on a sunny day. It's a rich warm smell. Many of the houses along our street in Cheltenham UK have it in their front gardens. I think it would be ripped out if people found it unpleasant.

Martin   Sun Jan 7 2007

I believe that the smell of this plant is quite pleasant, an almost "buttery" smell.

henry fletcher   Fri Jun 6 2008

I have just returned from Finland's national park in the archipelago, where I was introduced to this wonderful plant - it's pungent smell under the morning dew promised wholesome herbal goodness. I dried some sprigs in the sun and made a refreshing, dry tea.

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Subject : Hypericum perforatum  
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