Scientific Name
Hypericum olympicum L.
Common Name(s)
Mount Olympus St. John's Wort
Synonym(s)
Androsaemum adenophyllum, Hypericum adenophyllum, Hypericum dimoniei, Olympia glauca
Scientific Classification
Family: Hypericaceae
Genus: Hypericum
Flower
Color: Bright yellow
Bloom Time: Summer
Description
Hypericum olympicum is a dwarf deciduous subshrub with erect stems crowded with small oval grey-green leaves. It grows up to 10 inches (25 cm) tall and up to 12 inches (30 cm) wide. Flowers are bright yellow, up to 2 inches (5 cm) wide, and appear in small clusters.
How to Grow and Care
If you live in USDA plant hardiness zones 5 or 6 to 10 and have a partially shaded site, you can probably grow St. John's Wort. The plant isn't particular about the soil type. It grows well in sand, clay, rocky soil or loam, and tolerates acidic to slightly alkaline pH.
St. John's Wort adapts to both moist and dry soil and even tolerates occasional flooding. It also withstands drought but grows best with irrigation during prolonged dry spells. You won't find a plant that will thrive in more situations.
Growing St. John's Wort herb in a location with too much sun can lead to leaf scorch, while too much shade reduces the number of flowers. The best location is one with bright morning sunlight and a little shade in the hottest part of the afternoon.
If your soil isn't particularly fertile, prepare the bed before transplanting. Spread about 2 inches (5 cm) of compost or rotted manure over the area and dig it in to a depth of at least 8 inches (20 cm). Transplant the shrubs into the garden, setting them at the height they grew in their containers. They grow only 1 to 3 feet (30 to 90 cm) tall with a spread of 1.5 to 2 feet (45 to 60 cm), so space them 2 to 3 feet (60 to 90 cm) apart. Water slowly and deeply after planting and keep the soil moist until the transplants are well-established.
See more at How to Grow and Care for St. John's Wort.
Origin
This species is native to Eurasia, including Albania, Bulgaria, the states of the former Yugoslavia, Greece, Turkey, and Syria.
Links
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