1 named cultivar

‘Briggadoon’Briggadoon St. John's Wort

groundcover

St. John's Wort

Q: What zones can St. John's Wort grow in?

St. John's Wort is hardy in USDA Zones 4–9. Inside that range it survives winter in the ground; outside it, grow it as an annual or a container plant you protect.

Q: Is St. John's Wort deer resistant?

Yes — St. John's Wort is rated deer-resistant. Deer typically pass it over, though extreme hunger can override any plant's defenses.

Q: When does St. John's Wort bloom?

St. John's Wort typically blooms in summer through late fall. Exact timing shifts a week or two with your zone — Sow's bloom calendar maps it to your garden.

Q: Does St. John's Wort need full sun?

St. John's Wort does best in full sun to part shade. In hot climates, afternoon shade keeps blooms fresher longer.

Q: Is St. John's Wort drought tolerant?

Yes — once established (usually after the first full season), St. John's Wort handles dry spells with minimal watering. Water deeply its first year to build the root system that makes that possible.

Hypericum calycinum

$15.95

The Story

Plant Bio

Hypericum calycinum, rose of Sharon or Aaron's beard, is a low spreading semi-evergreen shrub from southeastern Europe and Turkey, twelve to eighteen inches high. Blue-green leaves three to four inches long turn purplish in autumn, and large golden cup-shaped flowers two to three inches across, with a prominent boss of stamens, open through summer.

It spreads by underground runners and makes a genuinely tough groundcover for dry banks, poor soil and root-filled ground under trees — conditions that defeat most flowering plants. That same vigour means it colonises a border if given the chance. Shear the whole planting to the ground every few springs to keep it dense and flowering.

Uses & Benefits:

Large golden cups with a prominent stamen boss, over blue-green foliage that purples in autumn.

Covers dry banks and root-filled ground under trees where most flowering plants fail.

Butterflies visit the flowers, and the mat holds soil on slopes against erosion.

Essentials

At a Glance

Plant Type

Groundcover

Height

15 inches

Width

24 inches

Light

Full Sun, Partial Sun

Zones

4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

Water

Low

Humidity

Moderate

Lifespan

Perennial

Native To

Southeastern Europe and Turkey

Toxicity

Highly toxic if eaten

Marketplace

Where to Buy

Rare Roots

<1 Gal Pot

In Stock$15.95

Perennial Farm Marketplace

In Stock$17.99

Shipping costs Year-round shipping Free shipping

Planting

How to Grow

Plant in full sun or partial shade in any drained soil.
Use it on banks, slopes and dry shade under trees.
Space plants a foot apart to knit together.
Shear the whole planting to the ground every few springs.
Contain the runners at the edge of a border.
Keep it away from grazing animals.

Pro Tip

Mow or shear the whole planting to the ground every second or third spring — it regrows dense and flowers better for it.

Keep It Thriving

Care Guide

Do

Use it on dry banks and under trees ⛰️
Shear it hard every few springs ✂️
Contain the running edge 🚧
Plant it in poor soil without feeding 🌱

Don't

Let it run through a mixed border ❌
Plant it near pasture ❌
Feed or over-water it ❌

Seasonal Care Calendar

Task	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Enjoy
Shear

Watch Out For

Pests & Diseases

Common Pests

Common Diseases

In the Garden

Landscape Uses & Companions

Landscape Uses

Groundcover on dry banks and slopesDry shade under established treesErosion control on difficult ground

Companion Plants

Creeping Juniper Liriope Vinca Cotoneaster Epimedium

Multiply

Propagation Methods

Good to Know

Common Questions

St. John's Wort questions

What zones can St. John's Wort grow in?

St. John's Wort is hardy in USDA Zones 4–9. Inside that range it survives winter in the ground; outside it, grow it as an annual or a container plant you protect.

Is St. John's Wort deer resistant?

Yes — St. John's Wort is rated deer-resistant. Deer typically pass it over, though extreme hunger can override any plant's defenses.

When does St. John's Wort bloom?

St. John's Wort typically blooms in summer through late fall. Exact timing shifts a week or two with your zone — Sow's bloom calendar maps it to your garden.

Does St. John's Wort need full sun?

St. John's Wort does best in full sun to part shade. In hot climates, afternoon shade keeps blooms fresher longer.

Is St. John's Wort drought tolerant?

Yes — once established (usually after the first full season), St. John's Wort handles dry spells with minimal watering. Water deeply its first year to build the root system that makes that possible.