Pumpkin St. John's Wort

Pumpkin St. John's Wort (Hypericum x inodorum 'KOLMAPUKU')

Pumpkin St. John's Wort is a compact shrub that keeps beds looking colorful long after peak bloom, shifting from bright yellow flowers to a bold berry finish. It is an easy way to add late-season impact when many shrubs start to fade, without committing space to a large plant. The tidy, mounded habit fits neatly into borders, foundations, and mixed plantings where you want clean structure. If you like shrubs that provide a long runway of interest with simple care, this one delivers.

Distinctive Features

This selection forms a dense, rounded to upright-mounding shrub with rich green foliage and a steady summer flower display. Saucer-shaped yellow flowers with prominent stamens appear from late spring into summer, followed by showy clusters of upright, elongated orange berries that color up from late summer into fall. The fruit display is the signature feature and is especially useful for seasonal decorating and cut stems. Mature size is commonly about 30 to 36 inches tall and 24 to 36 inches wide.

Growing Conditions

• Sun: Full sun to part shade, with best flowering and berry color in full sun.
• Soil: Average, moist, well-drained soil is ideal, and avoid sites that stay wet.
• Water: Water regularly during establishment, then provide occasional deep watering during extended dry periods.
• USDA Zones: Zones 6 to 9.
• Mature Size: About 30 to 36 inches tall and 24 to 36 inches wide.
• Habit: Compact, dense, upright-mounding shrub.
• Notable Traits: Bright orange fall berries extend seasonal interest well beyond bloom.

Ideal Uses

• Focal Point: Use the orange berry clusters as a focal point near an entry, walkway, or patio for strong late-season color.
• Foundation Planting: Place in front of taller shrubs to create a tidy mid-layer that stays interesting from summer into fall.
• Border Planting: Repeat in sunny borders to create consistent mounded structure with a bloom to berry transition.
• Container Feature: Grow in a large container for a seasonal accent that looks fresh in summer and standout in fall.
• Cut Stem Garden: Plant where berry stems can be harvested for arrangements and seasonal decorating.

Low Maintenance Care

• Watering: Keep moisture consistent the first season to establish roots, then water as needed during dry stretches.
• Mulching: Mulch to conserve moisture and reduce weeds, keeping mulch a few inches away from the stems.
• Pruning: Prune in late winter to early spring to refresh shape and encourage vigorous new growth.
• Fertilizing: Feed lightly in spring if needed, and avoid heavy fertilizing that can reduce flowering and berry set.
• Drainage: Improve drainage in heavy soils to prevent stress and keep growth cleaner.
• Cleanup: Remove any winter-damaged stems in spring and thin lightly if the center becomes crowded.

Why Choose Pumpkin St. John's Wort?

• Orange Berry Display: Showy fall fruit provides a second season of color when many shrubs are winding down.
• Long Season Value: Flowers lead into berries, keeping the plant contributing for months.
• Compact, Tidy Habit: Dense branching stays full and easy to place in mixed beds.
• Great For Arrangements: Berry stems are useful for cut stems and seasonal decorating.
• Often Deer Resistant: Frequently less preferred by deer, though browsing can still occur.

If you want a compact shrub that performs in summer and finishes strong in fall, Pumpkin St. John's Wort is a smart addition. Plant it in sun to part shade with good drainage, keep moisture steady while it establishes, and refresh it with a simple spring prune. You will get a neat mound of foliage, bright flowers, and an orange berry finish that keeps the landscape looking intentional late in the season.