Scientific Name
Hypericum revolutum Vahl
Common Name(s)
Curry Bush, Forest Primrose
Synonym(s)
Hypericum revolutum subsp. revolutum, Hypericum kalmianum, Hypericum kalmii, Hypericum lanuriense, Hypericum leucoptychodes
Scientific Classification
Family: Hypericaceae
Genus: Hypericum
Flower
Color: Bright yellow
Bloom Time: June to November
Description
Hypericum revolutum is an evergreen shrub or small tree with opposite green to slightly glaucous leaves closely spaced and crowded at the ends of branches. Single flowers are bright yellow, up to 2 inches (5 cm) in diameter, and appear at the ends of branches from June to November. Fruits are reddish-brown capsules. They are up to 0.5 inches (1.3 cm) long and up to 04 inches (1 cm) wide.
Hardiness
USDA hardiness zone 8a to 11b: from 10 °F (−12.2 °C) to 50 °F (+10 °C).
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 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). Next, 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 high mountains in the southern Arabian Peninsula, through tropical eastern Africa south into South Africa.
Links
- Back to genus Hypericum
- Plantpedia: Browse flowering plants by Scientific Name, Common Name, Genus, Family, USDA Hardiness Zone, or Origin
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