Hypericum empetrifolium, commonly known as St. John’s Wort, is a deciduous subshrub native to rocky hillsides and scrubby areas in Southern Europe. It typically grows to a height of 2-3 feet (0.6-0.9 meters) and a width of 1-2 feet (0.3-0.6 meters). This plant features small, dense, dark green leaves and produces bright yellow flowers from mid-summer to early fall, which are highly attractive to pollinators such as bees.

St. John’s Wort is valued for its medicinal properties, as well as its ornamental appeal due to the cheerful yellow flowers. It is used in rock gardens, borders, and as ground cover. It adapts well to container gardening and is also used in traditional medicine for its purported healing properties. Hypericum empetrifolium requires well-drained soil and can tolerate drought once established, making it suitable for xeriscaping. It thrives in full sun to part shade and prefers a moderate watering schedule. While generally low-maintenance, it can be susceptible to rust and root rot if overwatered or planted in poorly drained soils.CC BY-SA 4.0