Other Names:  Scouler's St. John's Wort

Description:

Bright yellow to pale orange buttercups with protruding stamens rise above small narrow leaves that are bluish-green; foliage is scented when crushed; a native, non-invasive variety that is widely adaptable but thrives in moist, well-drained soil

Ornamental Features

Western St. John's Wort has masses of beautiful yellow buttercup flowers with orange overtones at the ends of the branches from mid to late summer, which emerge from distinctive red flower buds, and which are most effective when planted in groupings. The flowers are excellent for cutting. It has attractive bluish-green deciduous foliage. The tiny fragrant narrow leaves are highly ornamental but do not develop any appreciable fall color. It produces brown capsules with coppery-bronze hints from late summer to late fall.

Landscape Attributes

Western St. John's Wort is a multi-stemmed deciduous shrub with an upright spreading habit of growth. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other landscape plants with less refined foliage.

This shrub will require occasional maintenance and upkeep, and is best pruned in late winter once the threat of extreme cold has passed. It is a good choice for attracting bees and butterflies to your yard. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Western St. John's Wort is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Mass Planting
• General Garden Use
• Groundcover
• Naturalizing And Woodland Gardens
• Container Planting

Planting & Growing

Western St. John's Wort will grow to be about 32 inches tall at maturity, with a spread of 32 inches. It tends to fill out right to the ground and therefore doesn't necessarily require facer plants in front. It grows at a fast rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 5 years.

This shrub does best in full sun to partial shade. It prefers to grow in average to moist conditions, and shouldn't be allowed to dry out. This plant does not require much in the way of fertilizing once established. It is particular about its soil conditions, with a strong preference for rich, acidic soils. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. Consider applying a thick mulch around the root zone in winter to protect it in exposed locations or colder microclimates. This species is native to parts of our region. It can be propagated by division.

Western St. John's Wort makes a fine choice for the outdoor landscape, but it is also well-suited for use in outdoor pots and containers. With its upright habit of growth, it is best suited for use as a 'thriller' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination; plant it near the center of the pot, surrounded by smaller plants and those that spill over the edges. It is even sizeable enough that it can be grown alone in a suitable container. Note that when grown in a container, it may not perform exactly as indicated on the tag - this is to be expected. Also note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.