Hypericum - St.John's Wort

Hypericum, well known as St. John's Wort, are hardy perennial plants that are extremely easy to grow, from the family Hypericaceae. It is a genus composed of around 400 species found worldwide, except in deserts and arctic regions. The foliage is often evergreen, at least for a good part of the year. The flowers are always yellow, ranging from lemon to orange, with a central tuft of prominent stamens. From the groundcovering Hypericum calycinum, formidable against weeds but sometimes overused, to the everlasting bush Hypericum Hidcote from our grandmothers' garden, to the delightful orange flowering of Hypericum x inodorum 'Excellent Flair', these plants are almost foolproof. Classic varieties coexist with variegated foliage, as with Hypericum x moserianum 'Tricolor'. Not very demanding, with rapid growth, St. John's Wort often tolerates frost and poor soils, even dry ones, proving its incredible vigour. Its flowers renew themselves throughout the entire growing season without watering or special care, and pruning is unnecessary. It grows on its own, and will not suffer from neglect or the mistakes of beginner gardeners. In return, it continues to flower, time and time again. It can be grown in pots on the patio or balconies. St. John's Wort deserves to be included in every garden. Not to mention that they are highly medicinal plants, like Hypericum androsaemum (Tutsan), whose remarkable properties have been known for a long time.