Hypericum inodorum Rheingold - St. John's wort

Hypericum x inodorum 'Rheingold', like most shrubby St. John's worts, is a very rewarding, undemanding, and easy to grow plant. It naturally forms a dense dome with a graceful habit, interesting from spring to autumn, and even in winter if the cold does not strip it of its foliage which sometimes turns purple. From May onwards, its young red-purple foliage creates a beautiful backdrop for its early flowering, which is a bright yellow. The flowering continues until summer, with its small golden cups blending with large bright red fruits that ripen to a chocolate tone on this decidedly colourful shrub. This St. John's wort can be planted in beds, rockeries, borders, or even in a container on a patio, preferably in partial shade.

'Rheingold' is derived from Hypericum inodorum, the unscented St. John's wort native to the Island of Madeira. It belongs to the Hypericaceae family. This cultivar is a small, fairly fast-growing shrub, reaching an average height of 1m (3ft) and width of 1.2m (4ft). It has a dense and semi-upright habit, slightly spreading, carried by weakly arched bicarinate stems. They are adorned with entire and aromatic leaves, mostly semi-evergreen. They are ovate in shape, leathery, without petioles, 11cm (4in) long, with a beautiful red-purple colour when budding, becoming dark green with a slightly glaucous underside. It flowers early for a St. John's wort, usually from May to July, depending on the climate. The flowers are produced abundantly in clusters of 3 to 23 tiny flowers, 1.5 to 3cm (1in) in diameter. They consist of 5 rounded, golden yellow petals arranged in an open cup shape. The centre of the flower is occupied by a prominent crown of long stamens. This flowering is followed by the formation of conical fruits, which are cherry red in colour turning to shiny brown, measuring 8 to 13mm (1in) in diameter.

St. John's worts are appreciated for their very long flowering period and their ease of cultivation in all types of soil and under all climates, even by the sea and even in shade. If you like yellow flowers, Hypericum 'Rheingold' is ideal to plant in a brand new garden, even if you are a novice gardener or have little time to devote to maintaining flower beds. It excels in low shrub beds or perennial beds, in large borders, in the understory, at the edge of a grove, and among the roots of large trees. For example, it can be combined with purple foliage plants (physocarpus, berberis, bronze fennel) in a fashionable setting, or play on the perfect harmony between the yellow of its flowers and the blue of perovskia, caryopteris, nepeta, or perennial geranium. Surround your carefully composed beds with euphorbias and alchemilla, with their very attractive foliage. Its summer yellow flowering will not compete with the more pastel spring flowers. Perfectly hardy, it can be planted in sunny positions in cool climates, but in partial shade or full shade in hot climates, to protect its foliage from the harsh sun.