Hypericum inodorum Golden Beacon - St. John's wort

Hypericum x inodorum Golden Beacon, or St. John's wort, is a bush with an upright and slightly spreading habit that brightens up any dark corner of the garden, thanks to its semi-evergreen, golden yellow foliage.

Of small size, Golden Beacon forms a bush that reaches a height of 1.2m (4ft) with a spread of 1m (3ft). Its leaves are initially light green during the bud burst period, then quickly turn golden yellow throughout the summer, and finally become yellow-orange in autumn. It's a beautiful gradient resembling a sunset. The colour is enhanced by the golden yellow flowering that blooms from June to September. In autumn, small round orange fruits appear and last until winter.

It displays its most beautiful, bright and colourful foliage in partial shade. It's the ideal plant for gardens as it is not demanding in terms of soil type as long as it is well-drained.

To maintain a compact habit, prune it in early spring, but only once every two or three years. Also, remove any dead or damaged branches. It's a reliable choice for borders, as standalone plants, in groups, or as ground cover.

Combine it with blue flowers or purple foliage such as Cotinus coggygria 'Rubrifolia', physocarpus, berberis, and purple heuchera.