Hypericum

More Information About Hypericum

Just exactly who is St. John, and why does he have worts? Botanically speaking, 'wort' is an old English word meaning 'plant', not a skin disorder. Hypericum is a genus of perennial wildflowers that has been associated with John the Apostle for hundreds of years because it blooms on or around the Feast of St. John in midsummer.

In the Middle Ages, Europeans believed that hypericum possessed magic powers and would hang it around their houses for protection from witches and evil spirits. The genus name is actually derived from this practice. The words 'hyper' meaning above and 'eikon' meaning picture which is a reference to the practice of hanging the flowers above pictures or windows.

St. John's Wort Plants in Traditional Medicine

Records of its use in traditional medicine date back to the ancient Greeks and even today St. John's Wort extract is a popular medicine to treat depression and other medical disorders, certainly the modern equivalent of being haunted by evil spirits, although that's not why we sell it. Recent studies have shown that St. John's wort can interact very badly with a variety of medications, especially those used to treat depression.

Hypericum in the Garden

We grow hypericum because it is a great landscape plant that attracts butterflies. It produces hundreds of yellow flowers during the summer months and it is extremely tough. Many St. John's wort plants are drought-tolerant, tolerate a wide range of soil types and grow well in full or part sun. It is worth noting that some species are North Carolina native plants.