Sunburst St. John's Wort

Sunburst St. John's Wort (Hypericum frondosum 'Sunburst')

Sunburst St. John's Wort is a compact flowering shrub that delivers a long run of sunny color with a clean, easy shape. It brings bright yellow blooms right when borders need a summer lift, while the blue-green foliage keeps the plant looking refined between flower flushes. The naturally dense habit makes it useful where you want a low shrub that stays full without constant trimming. Once established, it handles typical garden conditions well and keeps beds looking finished through the season.

Distinctive Features

This selection forms a dense, rounded to upright-mounding shrub with narrow, blue-green leaves that add fine texture and a cool-toned contrast in mixed plantings. Large, showy yellow flowers with prominent stamens open in early to mid summer, often continuing in waves as the season progresses. The plant remains well-branched and tidy, making it easy to repeat through borders or use as a small hedge. Mature size is commonly about 2 to 4 feet tall and 3 to 4 feet wide.

Growing Conditions

• Sun: Full sun to part shade, with best flowering and density in full sun.
• Soil: Well-drained soil is ideal, and it adapts to average soils when drainage is reliable.
• Water: Water regularly during establishment, then water during extended dry periods.
• USDA Zones: Zones 5 to 8.
• Mature Size: About 2 to 4 feet tall and 3 to 4 feet wide.
• Habit: Dense, rounded to upright-mounding shrub.
• Notable Traits: Showy yellow summer flowers and good drought tolerance once established.

Ideal Uses

• Focal Point: Use the bright yellow summer bloom as a focal point near a walkway or patio where the flowers can be enjoyed up close.
• Border Planting: Repeat in sunny borders to create consistent midsummer color and a tidy mid-layer.
• Foundation Planting: Place in front of taller shrubs to add a compact, flowering layer that stays proportional.
• Low Hedge: Plant in a loose line to create a compact flowering hedge with a clean, mounded profile.
• Pollinator Garden: Include in sunny plantings to support bees and other beneficial insects during summer.

Low Maintenance Care

• Watering: Keep soil evenly moist the first season, then reduce watering as roots establish.
• Mulching: Mulch to conserve moisture and reduce weeds, keeping mulch a few inches away from the stems.
• Pruning: Cut back in late winter to early spring to refresh the shrub and encourage strong flowering on new growth.
• Fertilizing: Feed lightly in spring if needed, and avoid heavy fertilizing that can reduce flowering.
• Cleanup: Remove any winter-damaged stems in spring to keep the plant dense and well-shaped.
• Site Management: Avoid persistently wet soils to support healthier foliage and better bloom performance.

Why Choose Sunburst St. John's Wort?

• Showy Summer Flowers: Large yellow blooms deliver dependable color when many shrubs are finished for the season.
• Tidy Compact Habit: Dense branching keeps the shrub looking full and intentional without frequent shaping.
• Refined Foliage Texture: Blue-green leaves add cool contrast that pairs well with broader-leaved shrubs and perennials.
• Pollinator Friendly: Flowers provide a strong nectar source for bees and other beneficial insects.
• Often Deer Resistant: Frequently less preferred by deer, though browsing can still occur.

If you want a compact shrub that delivers strong summer color and stays neat with simple care, Sunburst St. John's Wort is an excellent fit. Plant it in sun to part shade with reliable drainage and give it a spring cutback to keep the habit fresh. It will reward you with a dense, well-branched mound and a bright flower display that carries the border through summer.