Hypericum perforatum

St. John's Wort is a vigourous flowering perennial, native to parts of Europe and Asia. The name derives from its traditional harvest date of St. John's Day (24 June), when parts of the plant would have been hung over religious icons to ward off the devil. St John's Wort made a name for itself in folk medicine, said to combat depressive symptoms, although the scientific research is not conclusive and the herb can interact dangerously with other medication. An interesting plant all in all- does well in most Irish conditions as an upright perennial with small, ovate leaves and star-shaped yellow flowers in Summer. Ingestion by livestock can cause illness or death, so keep this in mind when planting.

Site: Tolerates exposure
Soil: Well drained
Position: Full sun to part shade
Season of Interest: Perennial, yellow flowers in Summer
Hardiness: Hardy
Height: 1.5-3ft (0.5-1m) Spread: up to 1.5ft (0.5m)