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Hypericum - L.

Common Name Tutsan, Sweet-amber, St. Johnswort
Family Hypericaceae
USDA hardiness 5-10
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Damp woods and hedges[17].
Range Western and southern Europe, including Britain, south and east to Algeria, W. Asia and the Caucasus.
Edibility Rating    (0 of 5)
Other Uses    (3 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (1 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Well drained soil Moist Soil Semi-shade Full sun
Hypericum Tutsan, Sweet-amber, St. Johnswort


http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:KENPEI
Hypericum Tutsan, Sweet-amber, St. Johnswort
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Summary

Bloom Color: Yellow. Main Bloom Time: Early summer, Late summer, Mid summer. Form: Rounded, Spreading or horizontal.


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of shrub
Hypericum is a deciduous Shrub growing to 1 m (3ft 3in) by 1 m (3ft 3in) at a fast rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 6. It is in flower from June to August, and the seeds ripen from August to September. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Insects. 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 and can grow in very acid and very alkaline soils.
It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought. The plant can tolerates strong winds but not maritime exposure.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Plant Habitats

Edible Uses

None known

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.


The leaves are diuretic, stomachic and vulnerary[61, 186]. They have antiseptic properties and have been used to cover open wounds[245].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

A good ground cover plant[208]. Although it is clump forming rather than spreading it increases freely by self-sowing[186, 200]. Plants are best spaced about 90cm apart each way[208].

Special Uses

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Landscape Uses:Border, Erosion control, Ground cover, Massing, Rock garden. Easily grown in any reasonably good well-drained but moisture retentive soil[1]. Tolerates a wide range of pH[186]. Succeeds in sun or semi-shade[1] but flowers better in a sunny position[200]. Succeeds in dry shade and is drought tolerant when established[190]. Hardy to about -20°c, but if cut back by cold weather plants can resprout from the base[184]. Plants often self-sow freely[208]. A number of named forms have been developed for their ornamental value[182]. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[200]. The leaves are covered in pellucid dots which, when touched, release a resinous smell somewhat like goats[245]. Special Features: Attractive foliage, Naturalizing, Attracts butterflies, Attractive flowers or blooms

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

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Plant Propagation

Seed - sow spring in a greenhouse and only just cover the seed. The seed usually germinates in 1 - 3 months at 10°c. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Cuttings of half-ripe wood 10 - 12 cm with a heel, July/August in a frame. Plant out in the following spring[200] Careful division of old suckering shrubs in the dormant season.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

TEMPERATE ASIA: Iran (north), Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Russian Federation (Dagestan), Turkmenistan EUROPE: United Kingdom, Ireland, Belgium, Switzerland, Bulgaria, Italy (incl. Sicily), Montenegro, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, France (incl. Corsica), Portugal AFRICA: Algeria (north), Tunisia

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 perforatumSt. John's Wort, Common St. JohnswortPerennial0.9 3-10  LMHSNDM242
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.

 

Expert comment

Author

L.

Botanical References

17200

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Subject : Hypericum  
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