Perennial medicinal plant, easily grown in medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. Species plants prefer sandy or gravelly soils in sunny areas.
It typically grows from a woody, branched rootstock to 1-3’ tall, and features a showy display of star-shaped, yellow flowers that bloom in pyramidal compound cymes in summer (June-August). Each flower has 5 yellow petals peppered with black dots, a pistil with 3 styles and a center boss of bushy yellow stamens. Stem-clasping, elliptic to oblong leaves to have translucent dots and black marginal punctations.
East Europe (Albania) and grown soon in Valle d’Aosta (Italy).
Since ancient times, hypericum plants have been used as herbal treatments for a variety of medical problems including externally for wounds, inflammations, burns, skin disorders, and nerve pain and internally for anxiety, depression and insomnia. Flowers are typically in bloom on the birthday of St. John the Baptist (June 24). The active ingredient in the leaves and flowers is hypercin.
Middle of June, middle of August.
