Virginia Tech Dendrology

Saint Johnswort Clusiaceae Hypericum spp. L. symbol: HYPER
Leaf: Opposite, simple, oblong, entire margins, 1 to 2 inches long, blue green above, paler below, transparent dots when held up to light (may need a hand lens), clusters of smaller leaves often in leaf axils.
Flower: Bright yellow, 4 or 5 petals and sepals, 1 1/2 inches across, clustered at twig ends, appearing in summer.
Fruit: Dry, usually 5 parted capsules, 1/4 to 1/2 inch across, ripens in late summer.
Twig: Slender, brown, and angled.
Bark: On larger stems finely shreddy and scaly.
Form: A small, sprawling shrub up to 2 feet high.
Looks like: Morrow honeysuckle - border privet

Additional Range Information: Hypericum spp. is native to North America. Range may be expanded by planting. Download the full-size PDF map.
More Information: Fall Color
External Links: USDAFS FEIS Silvics - USDA Plants Database - Horticulture Information
All material 2021 Virginia Tech Dept. of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation; Photos and text by: John Seiler, Edward Jensen, Alex Niemiera, and John Peterson; Silvics reprinted from Ag Handbook 654; range map source information