#937 Hypericum calycinum Common Names: Aaron's beard, creeping St. John's wort, Rose of Sharon, goldflower Family: Hypericaceae (St. John's wort Family) Get link to this Profile or click for data record #937

Jack's 'Hidcote' hypericum finally bloomed after a nine years wait (and much impatient complaining) two flowers finally burst forth to pose briefly for the camera! Click to download a large version (800x600).

Hypericum 'Hidcote', one of the most popular St. John's worts, is believed to have resulted from the hybridization of H. calycinum and H. X cyathiflorum, itself a hybrid between two other European species. 'Hidcote' is a very showy shrub to 4 ft (25.4 m) tall, that produces an abundance of golden yellow flowers over a prolonged blooming season.

Although Aaron's beard doesn't put on much of a flower display here in the hot humid southeastern United States, the foliage is attractive - especially when young growth blushes like this after a cold kiss of frost.

Culture
Aaron's beard thrives in poor, sandy soils. Mow it to the ground every year or two in winter or early spring to rejuvenate and induce new growth.
Light: Aaron's beard does well in full sun to partial shade, and tolerates almost complete shade. The more sun it gets, however, the more it blooms. Plants in quite shady situations flower very little.
Moisture: Although Aaron's beard can survive droughts, it does best with regular watering.
Hardiness: USDA Zones 5 - 9. Some authorities give the hardiness zones as only 5-7. Aaron's beard suffers in hot, dry climates, and seems to do best in cooler, wetter areas. In the southern US, it stays evergreen through the winter, but blooms only sporadically. Aaron's beard is killed back to the roots by severe cold, but it returns in spring and blooms on new growth.
Propagation: Start new plants from rooted underground stems, or from softwood cuttings.

Aaron's beard covers shady ground at the Atlanta Botanical Garden's visitor center.

Features
Aaron's beard is one of very few effective groundcovers for dry, shady areas. And, it covers fast! There are more than 400 species in the St. John's wort genus, Hypericum, including many handsome shrubs native to the US, as well as the popular antidepressant herb from Europe, perforate St. John's wort (H. perforata), usually called just, "St. John's wort." Dozens of hypericums are native to the America's - one that is native to the southeastsrn United States, cedarglade (Hypericum frondosum) makes a handsome addition to landscapes and gardens.

Formerly classified within the family Guttiferae, the genus is placed in the family Clusiaceae by some authors, and in the Hypericaceae by others. Take your pick.

WARNING
Aaron's beard spreads exuberantly, and under ideal growing conditions can become invasive and difficult to get rid of.

Steve Christman 12/31/01; updated 5/29/04, 6/9/04, 6/11/06

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