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Common St. John's Wort

Also known as

Perforate st john's-wort and Common saint john's wort

Taxonomy

Scientific name

Hypericum perforatum

Genus

Hypericum

Family

Hypericaceae

Order

Malpighiales

How to care for Common St. John's Wort

💦 Water

How often to water your Common St. John's Wort

Common St. John's Wort needs 0.5 cups of water every 9 when it doesn’t get direct sunlight and is potted in a 5" pot.

Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Water 0.5 cups every
9

Does your plant get direct sunlight?

No Yes

Select the pot size

☀️ Light

Finding light for Common St. John's Wort in your home

Common St. John's Wort love being close to bright, sunny windows 😎.

Place it less than 1ft from a south-facing window to maximize the potential for growth.

Common St. John's Wort does not tolerate low-light 🚫.

Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of Common St. John's Wort in your home 🏡.

🪴 Nutrients

How to fertilize Common St. John's Wort

Nutrient, fertilizer, and repotting needs for Common St. John's Wort: repot after 2X growth

Most potting soils come with ample nutrients which plants use to produce new growth.

By the time your plant has depleted the nutrients in its soil it’s likely grown enough to need a larger pot anyway.

To replenish this plant's nutrients, repot your Common St. John's Wort after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.

st john’s wort help needed hi all, does anyone know what I can do with my at johns wort? I am applying fungus shield every two weeks, fed it, i have a small garden bed in my home and it’s USDA Zone 9a, like, it’s in a north facing area so there is mostly shady but gets plenty of sun in summer

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💡 FAQs

⭐ Difficulty Level

Common St. John's Wort is generally considered an easy-to-care-for plant and makes a great choice for beginners!

Benefits of Growing Common St. John's Wort →

Common Common St. John's Wort Problems →

💦 Water Needs

Common St. John's Wort prefers for the soil to dry out between waterings and should be watered regularly. Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Common St. John's Wort Water Frequency →

Common St. John's Wort Root Rot →

☀️ Sunlight Needs

Common St. John's Wort requires abundant, bright and direct light. Place it less than one foot from a window to ensure it receives enough light to survive 💪. Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement in your home 🏡.

Common St. John's Wort Light Requirements →

Common St. John's Wort Direct Sunlight Needs & Tolerance →

🐶 🐈 👶 Toxicity

Common St. John's Wort is extremely dangerous if consumed. If you, a family member, or a pet has ingested any amount of plant material contact Poison Control, US (800) 222-1222, or your veterinarian immediately. Common St. John's Wort is not recommended for homes with children, cats, or dogs.

🪴 Soil

Common St. John's Wort does best in well-draining soil. A good soil will contain lots of organic matter such as coco coir as well as perlite or vermiculite to help with drainage. Adding a handful of perlite to regular store-bought potting soil should do the trick!

Best Soil Mix for Common St. John's Wort →

When and How to Successfully Repot Common St. John's Wort →

What Are Healthy Common St. John's Wort Roots →

💩 Fertilizer

Common St. John's Wort grows very slowly and doesn’t require added fertilizer. Replacing your plant’s potting soil once a year should provide them with more than enough nutrition. Remember, plants get their energy from sunlight, not fertilizer!

How Much and When to Fertilize Common St. John's Wort →

⬆️ ⬇️ Growth Pattern

Common St. John's Wort grows along the ground and sends out shoots which will spread across the soil.

Common St. John's Wort Lifecycle →

Common St. John's Wort Size Guide →

How and When to Prune Common St. John's Wort →

🌦️ Growing Outdoors

USDA Hardiness Zone
Common St. John's Wort can be grown outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 5a-9b. Find your local hardiness zone here.

Common St. John's Wort Temperature Tolerance →

Common St. John's Wort Hardiness Zones →

Is Common St. John's Wort a Weed? →

🍂 Yellow Leaves

Yellow leaves aren’t always a reason to panic, and can be a normal part of a plant’s life cycle. Unless brand new leaves are turning yellow or all the leaves change color at once, it’s likely just your plant shedding old leaves.

Overwatering and root rot are the most likely cause of problems in Common St. John's Wort, since they are sensitive to wet soil. The leaves may also appear to be curling or drooping. Less often, yellow leaves are caused by underwatering, nutrient deficiencies, or pests.

Replace soggy soil with fresh, dry soil and download Greg to make sure your plant never gets overwatered again!

🧐 Troubleshooting

When troubleshooting a sad-looking houseplant, start by checking for signs of distress in its leaves, such as yellowing, browning, or drooping, which can indicate overwatering or nutrient deficiencies.

Inspect the soil moisture; too dry or too wet soil can cause problems.

Ensure the plant is getting the right amount of light, as too much or too little can stress it.

Finally, consider environmental factors like temperature and humidity, and adjust care routines accordingly to revive your plant.