Hypericum inodorum Elstead - St. John's wort

The bush St. John's Wort or Hypericum inodorum 'Elstead', like most of its counterparts, is a very rewarding plant and perfect for low-maintenance gardens. This one naturally forms a well-rounded, upright bush with dense vegetation. Despite the lack of care, it covers itself with small golden cup-shaped flowers for almost four months, late flowers and large bright red fruits mingling on the plant in a dazzling symphony of summer colours. These highly decorative fruits often persist until the beginning of winter and contribute to making this variety attractive for many months. An all-terrain plant par excellence, St. John's Wort thrives in full sun or partial shade in flower beds, rockeries, borders, or even in a container on the terrace.

The 'Elstead' bush St. John's Wort is derived from the Hypericum inodorum, the Odourless St. John's Wort native to the island of Madeira. It belongs to the Clusiaceae family. The 'Elstead' cultivar is a small fast-growing bush, generally not exceeding 90 cm (35.4 in) in all directions. It has a dense and rounded habit, carried by double stems all originating from the base. They are adorned with entire, aromatic leaves, usually semi-evergreen. They are oval-shaped leathery, without petioles, 11 cm (4.3 in) long, with a beautiful dark green colour slightly glaucous underneath. It blooms for four months of the year, from June-July to September-October, with a possible break during the hottest weeks if the soil is very dry. The flowers are produced abundantly in clusters of 3 to 23 very small flowers measuring 1.5 to 3 cm (0.6 - 1.2 in) in diameter. They are composed of 5 rounded, golden yellow petals arranged in an open cup. The centre of the flower is occupied by a crown of prominent, quite long stamens. This flowering is followed by the formation of conical cherry-red fruits, 8 to 13 mm (0.3 - 0.5 in) in diameter.

St. John's Wort is a plant that blooms for a long time and is easy to grow in any soil or climate, even in shady areas or near the sea. 'Elstead' Hypericum is a great choice for those who are new to gardening and want a yellow-flowered bush that is easy to maintain. It can be grown in low shrub beds, perennial beds, or undergrowth areas near trees. This plant can be paired with purple foliage plants like Physocarpus, Berberis, and Bronze Fennel for a trendy flower bed. Alternatively, you can combine it with Perovskia, Caryopteris, Nepeta or perennial geraniums for perfect harmony between the yellow of its flowers and the blue of these plants. Surround your flower beds, which have these plants, with Euphorbias and lady's mantles, which have very flattering foliage. The plant blooms in summer, making it a great addition to your garden without competing with pastel spring blooms. It's a hardy plant that can be grown in full sun in cooler climates. However, it's best to plant it in partial shade in hot climates to protect its foliage from harsh sun.