Hypericum perforatum - St. John's wort

Hypericum perforatum, also known as Perforate St John's wort, Common St John's wort, or Official St John's wort, is a beautiful perennial used in homeopathy for its calming and soothing virtues. It is a robust plant with wild charm that is appreciated in the garden for its long and abundant golden-yellow flowering, and also for its undemanding nature. Very hardy, it is perfect in a wild garden, in neglected areas, or in sunny spots.

Hypericum perforatum belongs to the Hypericaceae family. This plant is present throughout Europe, Asia, North Africa, and North America. In nature, it grows in the sun on limestone soils: along paths, at the edge of forests, in meadows, and on dry slopes. It is a perennial with a woody stump related to the shrubby St John's worts. The plant has a woody underground stem. It quickly forms a tuft 50cm (20in) to 1m (3ft) high (depending on growing conditions) and about 60cm (24in) wide. It can spread in large colonies. Its aerial vegetation is deciduous. It dries in autumn and reforms in spring. Its elliptical or linear leaves of a dark green shade are dotted with small translucent spots that contain an essential oil, and their border shows small black spots containing an active principle, hypericin, responsible for the properties of the plant. Abundant flowering takes place from May to September. It takes the form of large panicles bearing flowers of 3.5cm (1in) with 5 bright yellow petals marked with black. The heart of the flower is occupied by a bouquet of long stamens. After pollination by insects, red fruits form in the shape of ovate capsules. 

Hypericum perforatum is a great plant for difficult, little watered, even very dry areas, naturalistic beds, and gardens that leave a place for nature. Plant it on a large sunny slope, along the border of a path, on the sunny edge of a dry underwood, ot at the foot of a hedge. To accompany it, consider for example easy annuals like Love-in-a-Mist, Buglosses, or Persian Cornflower.

Although medicinal, St John's wort should not be consumed.