How to Grow St John's Wort

Last Updated: March 29, 2019

St. John's Wort (Hypericum perforatum) is both a beautiful perennial herb with lovely yellow flowers and one that has come to prominence recently as a medicinally useful herb in the treatment of depression. It is easy to grow but great care must be taken with it because it is poisonous to many animals and is harmful if eaten.

Steps

1
Obtain seeds or seedlings. Seeds can be sown in autumn/fall or spring. Seedlings can be planted in the spring. It is a hardy plant but should be protected from frost when getting started.
- It can also be propagated from small root cuttings and divisions.
2
Plant in soil that is well-drained, light but moist. St. John's Wort prefers sunny or partly-shaded positions in the garden.
- St. John's wort likes a slightly acidic soil of pH 5.5 to 7.^{[1]
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3
Sow with a light cover of soil over seeds. Gently water in.
4
Thin out seedlings when 5cm (2") tall.
5
Water regularly but do not water-log it. It requires more water during long dry spells.
6
Fertilize if the soil is very poor. Otherwise, there is no need to worry. St. John's wort is happy to take care of itself once well established in the garden.
7
Prune at the beginning of spring.

Community Q&A

Question

How long does it take for St John's Wort to germinate?

Chris

Top Answerer

When kept in a moist environment, away from bright light, St John's Wort should germinate in two to four weeks.
Question

What kind fertilizer can I use?

Chris

Top Answerer

You should only need to fertilize if the soil you are planting in is very poor. If you do have to fertilize, you should use a 20-20-20, 20-30-20, or 18-24-16 mixture. The three numbers refer to the percentage of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium in the mixture, respectfully.