Many noble garden plants serve with little glory but great dependability. It is to this essential “supporting cast” that a valuable trio of shrubby St. Johnsworts belongs.
“Why are they so valuable?” you ask. The answers are:
- Because they present a neat appearance throughout the entire growing season.
- Because they succeed in almost any soil, from full sun to partial shade.
- Because they are healthy and rarely troubled by insects or diseases.
- Because they bloom from early summer until fall.
Moreover, they fill a variety of roles admirably.
Varieties Of Hypericum
All species and varieties of Hypericum (pronounced hi-PERi-cum) share the common name, St. Johnswort.
One of the most useful, Hypericum calycinum, has another common name all its own, Aaron’s beard.
In many situations, it is a low, spreading sub-shrub useful as a freely flowering groundcover because it is both handsome and easily grown.
Its oval, dark green leaves, averaging three-fourths inch wide by 1 ½” inches long, form a dense, neat mass of foliage remarkably uniform in height.
This height varies from 12″ to 18″ inches, depending upon growing conditions.
Spreading by underground runners, plants set 18″ inches apart in the spring fill in to form a compact mass by fall.
Crowned With Stamens
From late June or early July until well into September or even October, this rich green carpet is thickly studded with brilliant floral sunbursts approximately 3” inches across.
A fluffy crown of orange-yellow stamens surmounts the five wide, yellow petals in each flower.
This touch of orange transmutes the underlying yellow into pure gold. On H. calycinum, the flowers are usually borne solitarily but occasionally in cymes.
Aaron’s beard is ideal as a ground cover for unifying foundation plantings or in many other situations where it will not be walked upon, such as low borders and at the top or base of retaining walls.
Sungold: Patented Variety
‘Sungold,’ a patented variety closely related to the hardy Hypericum patulum, is the most floriferous of these three St. Johnsworts.
A loosely branching, twiggy shrub growing 18” to 24” inches high with a spread of 2’ to 3’ feet.
It forms a neat mound of attractive foliage liberally covered during July and August (at least) by golden saucer-shaped flowers.
Because its slender branches are slightly drooping, the sides and the top of the plant are gaily gilded.
This is a fine shrub for planter boxes, at the top of retaining walls or in similar positions where it will be viewed near eye level.
Use it also for filling gaps among larger shrubs in foundation plantings and borders as well as for low hedges.
Sungold With Smaller Flowers
The individual flowers of ‘Sun-gold’ are much like those of Aaron’s beard, although a trifle smaller, perhaps two to three inches across.
A similar variety called ‘Hidcote,’ brought here from English gardens is our useful triumvirate’s third member.
An independent, distinctive little shrub more upright than ‘Sungold,’ it is the best of the three for specimens and hedges.
In the north, where top growth is usually winter-killed to some extent, it grows about 24″ inches high each summer.
In milder climates, it often reaches 3′ to 4′ feet. This is because its spread approximately equals its height.
Like the other two kinds, Foliage is neat, healthy, and handsome all season and a bit bolder with individual leaves about 2 ½” inches long by 1 ¼” inches wide, deep green-tinged red along the margins.
Hidcote’s Height Advantage
‘Hidcote’s’ fragrant flowers, about two inches across, are almost as profuse as ‘Sungold’ and are deeper yellow. As blossoms first open, the puffs of golden stamens show a pink flush.
‘Hidcote’ and ‘Sungold’ are sometimes planted in flower borders to give height, character, and summer color.
Used this way, ‘Hidcote’ is better toward the rear of the border, and ‘Sungold’ nearer the front.
Evergreen in Mild Climates
All three of these St. Johnsworts are evergreen in mild climates. But where temperatures drop toward zero, leaves turn brown by midwinter, and some die-back of branches may be expected.
Where leaves do die and fall, the orange-red color beneath the peeling outer bark on the stouter branches adds brightness to the winter landscape.
If old tops are cut close to the ground in early spring, the new growth will be as handsome and floriferous as the year before.
All shrubs have faults! Yet these three St. Johnsworts seem to have only one: they are sometimes short-lived.
That failing is shared more by ‘Sungold’ and ‘Hid-cote’ than by Aaron’s beard, which constantly renews itself from its rambling roots.
Although. not at all finicky about soil, all three thrive and bloom best in sandy loam with adequate moisture.
They seldom need fertilizer. Their easy propagation offsets their occasionally brief life spans.
llidcote’ and ‘Sungold’ will increase by softwood cuttings taken in June or July and stuck in sandy soil in a tight cold frame or under a jar or polyethylene tent.
Root Divisions
Aaron’s beard is even easier. Increase it by root divisions taken from around established clumps and transplanted in spring or early fall.
All three naturalize well in practically any exposure except deep shade.
Try combining them with blue spiraea (Caryopteris incana), especially with the rich-hued blue form called ‘Heavenly Blue,’ or with hardy perennials such as lavender monarda and orange-yellow tiger lilies or Mid-century hybrids.
44659 by Everett Henderson