Shrubby St. John's Wort - Hypericum prolificum
Hypericum prolificum, or Shrubby St. John's Wort, is a deciduous perennial shrub native to Michigan and the Upper Peninsula. Growing 2 to 5 feet tall and nearly as wide with showy yellow flowers, this shrub is a dramatic accent in a landscape.
It prefers open sandy or rocky ground, but is equally at home in fields, thickets, or the edges of wetlands and stream banks. Hardy, and tolerates a very diverse range of soils including clay or the crannies of rock outcrops. It likes dappled shade, part shade, or full sun, and pairs well with oak and walnut trees. Soil can vary from moist to medium-dry; drought-tolerant once established. Sturdy root system resists erosion. According to the Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder, the bark of older stems peels off revealing pale orange inner bark for winter interest. Bloom time lasts about two months in mid-to late summer.
Because of its width and fairly dense growth habit, this shrub makes a nice hedge or privacy screen. It blooms on new growth, and can be pruned in early-spring if desired. Deer and rabbit resistant, according to Prairie Moon Nursery.
St. John's Worts have a long history of medicinal use by peoples around the world. Shrubby St. John's Wort is the host plant for a variety of caterpillars, including Strymon melinus, the Gray Hairstreak, according to Illinois Wildflowers. The profusion of caterpillars, other insects, and seeds is attractive to birds. This plant is primarily bee pollinated and rewards bees with copious amounts of pollen, making this a bumblebee favorite. Combining beauty and high ecosystem function, Shrubby St. John's Wort is a winner in any landscape.