Hypericum densiflorum Pursh

Bushy St. John's Wort

Shrub

Perennial

Vascular

Bushy St. John's Wort is a native shrub in the St. John’s Wort family (Hypericaceae). It is native to most of Alabama. Bushy St. John's Wort grows along creeks, on sand and gravel bars, in swamps, in seeps, and on limestone outcrops. It often forms colonies from root sprouts. It is a deciduous or semi-evergreen shrub growing to 3 feet in height. It has a dense twiggy growth form. The dark gray bark on older stems exfoliates in large blocks exposing the reddish brown new bark below. Leaves are opposite, narrowly elliptic, and have entire margins. The leaves often have fascicles of smaller leaves in their axils. Flowers are produced in terminal and axillary cymes. There are five yellow petals and numerous yellow stamens. The fruit is a capsule. Bushy St. John's Wort is often available in the nursery trade. Several varieties have been selected including 'Creels Gold Star', 'Buttercup', 'Goldball', and 'Gemo'. Although often found on wet sites, Bushy St. John's Wort will adapt to quite dry sties. It works well as a low hedge, foundation planting, or mass bed. Flowering is most heavy in late spring, but continues throughout the summer.--A. Diamond

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Native

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