Hypericum kalmianum (Kalm St. Johns Wort)

Compact and easy to grow, Hypericum kalmianum (Kalm St. John’s Wort) is a small semi-evergreen shrub with showy, golden yellow flowers blooming for about 6 weeks in mid to late summer. They are borne in flat clusters of 3-7 flowers, at the tips of upright branching stems. Each cup-shaped flower presents 5 petals surrounding a prominent tuft of golden stamens.

Compact and easy to grow, Hypericum kalmianum (Kalm St. John's Wort) is a small semi-evergreen shrub with showy, golden yellow flowers blooming for about 6 weeks in mid to late summer. They are borne in flat clusters of 3-7 flowers, at the tips of upright branching stems. Each cup-shaped flower presents 5 petals surrounding a prominent tuft of golden stamens. Rich in nectar, they are a favorite of butterflies, bumblebees, or other pollinators and are excellent for cutting. They are followed by chocolate, oval seed heads in fall, which often persist until spring, but are of limited ornamental interest. The foliage of linear dark blue-green leaves provides a lovely backdrop for the bright golden blossoms.

  • This broadleaf semi-evergreen shrub has a dense, rounded habit and grows at a slow rate, up to 2-3 ft. tall with an equal spread (60-90 cm)
  • A full sun to part shade lover, this plant is easily grown in medium moisture, well-drained soils. Prefers moist, rich, sandy loams but tolerates poor, rocky or wet soils. Drought and salt tolerant.
  • Winner of the GreatPlants award, which is a joint effort between the Nebraska Nursery, Landscape Association and the Nebraska Statewide Arboretum. The goal of this award is to identify superior ornamental landscape plants that meet the challenging growing conditions of the region.
  • Low maintenance, this plant is also generally pest and disease free.
  • Perfect as a specimen or massed in borders, rock gardens, slopes, naturalized areas. Makes an excellent low hedge.
  • If pruning is required, cut back to shape in late fall but do not cut back all the way to the ground.
  • Native to the Great Lakes region of the U.S.

Requirements

Hardiness 4
– 7

Climate Zones 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10
Plant Type Shrubs
Plant Family Hypericum – St John's Wort
Exposure Full Sun, Partial Sun
Season of Interest Summer (Mid,Late)
Height 2'
– 3'
(60cm
– 90cm)
Spread 2'
– 3'
(60cm
– 90cm)
Spacing 24″
– 36″
(60cm
– 90cm)
Water Needs Average
Maintenance Low
Soil Type Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained, Well-Drained
Characteristics Cut Flowers, Plant of Merit, Showy, Semi-Evergreen
Native Plants United States, Midwest, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin, Northeast, New York
Tolerance Drought, Rocky Soil, Salt, Wet Soil
Attracts Bees, Birds, Butterflies
Garden Uses Banks and Slopes, Beds and Borders, Hedges and Screens
Garden Styles Gravel and Rock Garden, Informal and Cottage, Prairie and Meadow