St Johns Wort - Hypericum perforatum - €5 per plant 

St Johns Wort is a herbaceous perennial that giving the correct conditions will spread forming a very attractive drought tolerant ground cover. The plant has a long history of medicinal use and has established a place in modern medicine as a  treatment for depression. A ruderal specie it takes advantage of disturbed soil thriving in the full sun as well as in dappled shade.   To order this plant please contact us [email protected].  

Context

  • native region: Europe, south and east to N. Africa, the Azores, Madeira and W. Asia.
  • native habitat: Open woods, hedgebanks and grassland, in dry sunny places, usually on calcareous soils
  • family: Hypericaceae

Predators

  • None  known or experienced 

Needs, tolerances 

  • Light: Light shade or full sun
  • soil pH:  Acid, neutral -basic alkaline 
  • USDA Hardiness zone: 4a - 8b
  • Prefers well drained soil
  • It thrives in areas with either a winter- or summer-dominant rainfall pattern.

Known hazards 

  • Skin contact with the sap, or ingestion of the plant, can cause photosensitivity in some people.
  • In large doses, St John's wort is poisonous to grazing livestock (cattle, sheep, goats, horses).
  • Common side-effects are gastointestinal disturbances, allergic reactions & fatigue. If used with drugs classed as serotonin reuptake inhibitors (fluoxetine:Prozac, paroxetine:Paxil) symptoms of serotonin syndrome may occur: mental confusion, hallucinations, agitation, headache, coma, shivering, sweating, fever, hypertension, tachycardia, nausea, diarrheoa, tremors. St John's wort can reduce the effectiveness of prescription medicine inc: contraceptive pill, antidepressants, immune suppressants, HIV medications, warfarin, digoxin.

Overview

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  • Herbaceous perennial growing to 0.9 m  by 0.6 m.
  • It is in flower from May to August, and the seeds ripen from July to September.
  • The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Bees, flies, self.
  • The plant is self-fertile.
  • Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil.
  • Suitable pH: acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade.
  • It prefers moist soil.

Characteristics

  • form:Herbaceous  perennial 
  • layer : Herb Layer
  • habit: multi-stemmed , deep tap root system. 
  • height x width (m): 1.5 x 1
  • years to bearing yield: 0 years  
  • productive life span: indefinite 

Products 

  • Leaf: The herb and the fruit are sometimes used as a tea substitute.
  •  The flowers can be used in making mead
  • Medicinal: St John's wort is widely known as a herbal medicine for treating depression
  • The plant is said to contain good quantities of tannin.
  • Yellow, gold and brown dyes are obtained from the flowers and leaves

Functions, behaviours

  • It grows well in the summer meadow and is a useful plant for attracting insects.
  • St John's wort reproduces both vegetatively and sexually.
  • The seeds can persist for decades in the soil seed bank, germinating following disturbance.

If you would like this plant please send an email to [email protected] with your order. 
Balkan Ecology Project