Hypericum frondosum Michx.

Golden St. John's Wort; Cedar Glade St. John's Wort

Shrub

Perennial

Vascular

Golden St. John's Wort is a native deciduous shrub in the St. John’s Wort family (Hypericaceae). It can be found throughout Alabama, but is most common in areas underlain by limestone. It grows on river banks, along streams, on cedar glades, and in low woods. Golden St. John's Wort is a woody shrub reaching six feet in height. It has a single trunk and is much branched. The bark is tan in color and sloughs in large curling plates. The new bark that is exposed is reddish brown in color. The leaves are opposite, entire, oblong or lance-ovate in outline, and rounded at the tip. They have very short petioles. The leaves are often bluish-green in color. Foliage turns reddish-orange before dropping in the autumn. Flowers are produced at the ends of the branches. They are solitary or in three flowered cymes. There are five or six bright yellow petals that are reflexed. The stamens are very numerous. The fruit is a capsule. Golden St. John's Wort does very well in the home landscape. It is frequently offered for sale by nurseries. Several varieties are available including ones with deep blue-green foliage, and ones that are much branched but only three feet tall. Golden St. John's Wort prefers a rich loamy soil and partial sun. Plants should be mulched to prevent drought stress. Flowers are produced on new growth so plants should be pruned in the autumn.--A. Diamond

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Native

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