Hypericum Hidcote St. John's Wort Plant

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Masses of Lemon-Yellow Blooms, Even On Challenging Sites

Got a problem area that needs some color and foliage? Try this Hypericum ‘Hidcote’ also known as the St. John’s Wort shrub.

St. John’s wort ‘Hidcote’ is a compact, bushy shrub that produces hundreds of bright yellow flowers every summer, from June to August. Eventually, these flowers mature into St. John's Wort berries. Its orange-red berries are a treat for birds in the fall and winter.

What is St. John's Wort?

The shrubby St. John’s Wort is the common name for plants in the Hypericum genus, of which there are 490 different species recognized. With so many plants all going by the same common name, using the botanical name will ensure you are purchasing the plant you want. 

Hypericum patulum ‘Hidcote’ is this shrub’s full name, also known as Hypericum x hidcoteense. But you can call it ‘Hidcote’ or ‘Hidcote’ St John’s wort.

St. John’s Wort Plant Landscaping

‘Hidcote’ is an excellent choice for creating cover and interest in your property’s problem areas. It makes beautiful mass plantings of dark green foliage and lemon-yellow flowers. Stunning as a tall St. John's Wort ground cover plant, it tolerates rocky, dry soil and can be a perfect shrub for slopes, banks, or other areas you need to cover. 

Mass plantings are where this St John’s wort shines. Plant it in large beds, use it to make an informal hedge, line a walk or driveway, or plant a bunch in an area that gets plenty of sun but is too steep to mow. 

Add bright yellow summer color to your yard with Hypericum St John’s wort.

‘Hidcote’ St John’s Wort Plant Care Information

The ‘Hidcote’ St John’s wort perennial is hardy in USDA zones 5-8. It is primarily evergreen in the warmer parts of its range. It may lose foliage and experience some top dieback in the colder areas but will return in spring. Some cold-weather gardeners cut it back to the ground every autumn in preparation for winter.

This St John’s wort cultivar wants at least five hours of full and direct sunlight. It will grow in dappled or partial shade locations. 

‘Hidcote’ is not picky about soil or pH, as long as there is drainage. It is tolerant of droughty conditions and drier soils but will need regular watering during long hot, dry spells.

If your soil is poor, fertilize these shrubs with an annual, springtime application of a slow-release general-purpose fertilizer around the base of the plant.

St. John's Wort Plant Size

A compact and well-behaved shrub, when trimmed yearly, ‘Hidcote’ will be 2-4 feet tall and 2-4 feet wide at maturity. It is typically at the smaller end of the size range when grown in northern areas, where it suffers some winter top dieback and needs more extensive pruning. 

Treat your ‘Hidcote’ more like a woody perennial. Cut it back annually to keep it mounded, bushy, and full of foliage. Unpruned, Hypericum spp. may become woody and spindly over time. Trim off dead or broken branches and old woody stems with low vigor, then give the rest of the shrub a haircut to maintain a nice mounded shape. 

‘Hidcote’ St Johns wort flowers on new growth, so don’t worry about pruning off your blooms. Prune or cut back in late winter or early spring before new vegetative growth begins.

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