Hypericum prolificum (Shrubby St. John's Wort) Unity Grown

Hypericum prolificum, also known as shrubby St. John's wort, is a deciduous compact shrub native to the better part of the eastern half of the United States. Typically growing from 1-5' tall and slightly more narrow, this showy shrub is an excellent choice for naturalizing in woodland edges and for use in low borders and hedges. Densely branching and covered in fine, bright green, lance-shaped leaves, Hypericum prolificum is well-regarded for its darker, glossier summer foliage as well as its showy clusters of vibrant, sunny yellow, star-like flowers, which bloom from early to late summer; flowers are highly ornamental, and many St. John's wort varieties are commonly used in a variety of landscape conditions, so by using a native variety, you'll add beauty and support pollinators in any landscape.

Hypericum prolificum can tolerate both full direct sun and partial shade conditions, and is not picky about soil consistency or moisture, tending to like things right around average, but tolerating drought, poor and rocky soils, and even some clay sites. Shrubby St. John's wort is a great pick for ecological benefits, as its flowers provide nectar to a wide variety of pollinators, and its fruits are attractive to birds, but it's also a great pick for solution planting, and works great for erosion control, especially on stream banks or rocky slopes where other erosion control options might suffer from too much drought. Hypericum prolificum can also be used to great effect as a foundation planting, where its easily maintained size and dense branching work well to cover unsightly outdoor fixtures. As a bonus, shrubby St. John's wort is also highly resistant to deer and rabbit damage due to compounds in its leaves and stems that make it indigestible for many mammals.