Hypericum perforatum / St. John's Wort

Hypericum perforatum (aka St. John's Wort) is a subtle herbaceous perennial whose delicate yellow flowers bloom mid-summer until fall, followed by colorful berries. It can grow in a variety of soil conditions and is virtually no-maintenance, although it loves morning sun and a bit of shade during the hottest part of the day. St John's Wort makes an excellent ground cover and will reseed and spread to cover larger areas. Hypericum perforatum has also been used for eons in medicine for supporting calmness and peace of mind, in addition to relief from sunburn. The species name “perforatum” refers to the 'perforations' in the leaf that contain oil glands - these can be seen when a leaf is held up to the sunlight.