Despite its cheerful look, Hypericum is a tough character. It copes with a wide range of soils, shrugs off urban conditions and doesn’t complain too much if you forget to water it for a bit once it’s established. Many forms make naturally rounded mounds that stay neat without complicated pruning, and ground‑cover types are superb at smothering weeds. For busy gardeners who still want a garden that looks cared‑for, it’s a quietly dependable ally.
Common name: St John’s Wort
Latin name: Hypericum
Size in UK gardens: Most shrubby forms reach around 60cm–1.2m tall and wide; ground‑cover types often stay nearer 30–60cm.
Best position: Full sun or light partial shade in a reasonably sheltered spot, so flowers can open fully and foliage stays neat.
Soil: Most well‑drained garden soils, from light to fairly heavy, as long as they’re not permanently waterlogged.
Flowering time: A long season of bright yellow flowers from early summer, often continuing in flushes into early autumn.
Fragrance: Flowers are usually not noticeably scented; Hypericum is grown mainly for its cheerful blooms and berries.
Hardiness: Generally fully hardy across the UK, with foliage sometimes semi‑evergreen in milder winters.
Care level: Low to moderate; once established it’s a tough, easy shrub that responds well to a light trim and only asks for basic watering in dry spells.
The Simpson’s team raises the majority of our trees here at the nursery. For varieties outside our own production, we work with independent local growers we trust - all chosen for UK climate suitability.
Planting time: As container‑grown shrubs, Hypericum can be planted in most months when the soil isn’t frozen or waterlogged, with spring and autumn usually the easiest times for roots to settle.
Watering: Water regularly through the first growing season, particularly in dry spells, so plants can establish well. Once established in the ground, most Hypericum will only need extra water during prolonged hot, dry weather.
Feeding: In decent garden soil, a light mulch of garden compost in spring is usually enough. On poorer or very sandy soils, a modest application of balanced fertiliser in spring helps keep growth steady and flowering generous.
Pruning: Usually just needs a light trim each year to remove spent stems and keep the plant compact. Ground‑cover forms can be cut back more firmly every year or two if they get straggly.
Winter: Generally hardy in UK gardens and often semi‑evergreen in milder areas. A mulch around the base in late autumn is helpful in colder or more exposed spots, but heavy protection is rarely needed in the ground.
Availability is always changing, so please check with us if you have a particular variety in mind.
A cheerful, easy shrub with sunny yellow flowers followed by bead-like berries that colour from red to deep purple-black, giving months of interest. Lovely in mixed borders or naturalistic planting, and happy in sun or part shade. Tough, useful, and excellent for filling gaps with confidence.
A compact, well-mannered St John’s wort that forms a tidy mound and blooms freely through summer. The bright yellow flowers sit neatly against clean green foliage, making it ideal for the front of borders, banks and pots. It’s low-fuss, reliable, and perfect for adding a steady splash of sunshine.
A garden classic for good reason: a low, bushy shrub covered in large, golden-yellow flowers over a long summer period. Brilliant as ground cover, on banks, or at the front of borders where it’s tough and dependable. Give it a light trim after flowering and it stays dense, neat and very obliging.
A smaller, compact hypericum that stays neat and flowers generously, bringing a long run of bright yellow blooms. Ideal for edging, pots and small borders, where it provides dependable structure and colour without becoming bulky. Easy to grow, and a quick tidy after flowering keeps it looking smart.
A jaunty, compact shrub that flowers freely, with sunny yellow blooms that keep borders bright through summer. Perfect for smaller gardens, containers, and low planting where you want reliable colour with a tidy habit. It’s tough, unfussy and responds well to a light trim, staying dense and well behaved.
Foliage is the real delight: leaves brushed with cream and pink tones, bringing brightness long before the yellow flowers appear. It’s excellent near the front of borders and in pots where the variegation can be enjoyed up close, and it looks particularly crisp against darker greens. Best in sun for strongest colour.
A dependable, free-flowering hypericum with a relaxed, slightly arching habit and a long season of golden blooms. Wonderful for softening edges, covering banks, and weaving through mixed borders, coping well in sun or light shade. After flowering, a light trim keeps it compact and fresh, ready for the next season.
