St John’s Wort is a popular perennial plant that produces beautiful yellow flowers in summer Of the many varieties of St. John’s Wort, Hypericum Hidcote is one of the most popular and widely available. In this article, we’ll explore why Hypericum Hidcote has become a garden classic and how to grow this eye-catching plant.
Overview of Hypericum Hidcote
Hypericum Hidcote, also known as St John’s Wort Hidcote, is one of the older cultivars of St John’s Wort. It was bred in the 1920s at the famous Hidcote Manor Garden in England.
This compact shrub reaches a mature height and width of 2-3 feet. It has a mounded, bushy habit with erect, dense stems. The foliage consists of oval, dark green leaves up to 3 inches long.
From early to midsummer Hypericum Hidcote is blanketed with bright yellow, star-shaped flowers that measure 2 inches across. Each flower has prominent yellow stamens in the center. The flowers appear singly or in clusters of 3-7 blooms at the stem tips.
This St. John’s Wort variety is prized for its long bloom season, disease resistance, and versatility in the garden. It was awarded the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit.
Key Features and Benefits of Hypericum Hidcote
There are several notable features that make Hypericum Hidcote a top choice for gardens:
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Long flowering period – The blooms emerge in early summer and continue for up to 2 months. The flowers persist well with minimal shattering or fading.
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Compact, mounded shape – Its dense and bushy form makes it perfect for borders, beds, and containers. Takes up little space compared to other St. John’s Wort varieties.
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Deer and rabbit resistant – Hypericum Hidcote is rarely bothered by deer, rabbits, and other wildlife that forage in gardens. This makes it a great low maintenance option.
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Tolerates a range of conditions – It adapts well to various soil types, sunlight levels, and humidities. Requires little watering or fertilizing once established.
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Pest and disease resistant – This variety exhibits excellent resistance to common St. John’s Wort problems like leaf spots, rusts, and stem canker.
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Versatile usage – The compact, dense growth habit lends itself well for borders, mass plantings, rock gardens, and container plantings. Provides color through summer.
The combination of abundant flowering, trouble-free growth, and versatility cement Hypericum Hidcote’s reputation as one of the best St. John’s Wort cultivars.
How to Grow and Care for Hypericum Hidcote
Fortunately, Hypericum Hidcote is relatively easy to grow. Follow these tips for success:
Sunlight Requirements
- Does best in full sun – at least 6 hours of direct sun per day results in the most profuse flowering.
- Can tolerate partial shade, but may bloom less. Avoid deep shade.
Soil Needs
- Prefers slightly acidic to neutral soil pH (5.5 to 7.0)
- Grows well in most average, well-draining soils. Intolerant of overly wet soils.
- Improves poor soils by adding compost or organic material to increase drainage.
Watering and Humidity
- Needs occasional watering during first year to establish.
- Once mature, requires little watering except in severe drought. Use mulch to retain soil moisture.
- Tolerates humidity well. Suitable for humid climates.
Temperature and Exposure
- Hardy in USDA zones 5-9. Withstands cold winters and hot summers.
- Some frost tolerance, but best flowering occurs after last spring frost date.
- Shelter from harsh winds, which can damage stems and flowers.
Fertilizer
- Apply balanced fertilizer or compost 1-2 times per year. Avoid excessive nitrogen fertilization.
- If soil is very poor, amend with compost or aged manure before planting.
Pruning and Maintenance
- Prune annually after flowering by removing up to one-third of oldest stems to rejuvenate growth.
- Can shear lightly after bloom to maintain a compact, mounded form. Avoid shearing old wood.
- Remove spent flowers to encourage additional blooming. Deadhead individual blooms or trim off flower clusters.
- Divide large clumps every 3-5 years in early spring to prevent open centers and encourage vigorous growth. Discard woody parts.
Pest, Disease, and Problems
- Rabbit and deer resistant. Rarely damaged by pests.
- Highly disease resistant. Occasionally affected by leaf spots or stem canker in very wet conditions. Improve drainage and air circulation to prevent disease.
How to Use Hypericum Hidcote in the Landscape
There are many creative ways to showcase Hypericum Hidcote in gardens:
Borders and Beds
-Its compact, mounded form makes it ideal for garden borders. Plant in groups or staggered rows. Combine it with purple or white flowering perennials.
Rock Gardens
-Looks great cascading over the edges of rock gardens and stone walls. Allows its shiny leaves and abundant blooms to stand out.
Containers
-Does well in pots and planters. Choose a container at least 12-16 inches wide for mature plants. Combine with flowers in complementary colors.
Edging
-Can be used as an informal edging plant along paths, patios, and garden beds. Keeps its neat shape and won’t spread.
Mass Plantings
-For high impact, plant Hypericum Hidcote en masse. Space plants 12-18 inches apart to create a blanket of vivid yellow.
Cut Flowers
-The blooms make excellent cut flowers. Display in bouquets or flower arrangements to brighten indoors.
This versatile St. John’s Wort is an easy way to add stunning color to gardens from early summer into fall. Give Hypericum Hidcote a try this year!
Hypericum ‘Hidcote’ //⚡Magnificent, Highly Reliable Performer, with BRILLIANT Golden Yellow Flowers
FAQ
Why don t doctors prescribe St John’s wort?
Does St. John’s Wort come back every year?
Is Hypericum hidcote fast growing?
Where is the best place to plant St. John’s Wort?
Is Hidcote St John’s Wort a perennial?
Hidcote St. John’s wort is classified as a shrub, but is generally treated as a woody perennial. The extra large flowers of this early summer bloomer give way to bright red-orange berries in the fall. The dark green foliage remains evergreen in the warmest of the hardiness zones, giving good structure to the wintertime garden or a sloping hillside.
What is a Hypericum Hidcote?
Hypericum Hidcote (St John’s Wort) produces stunning , five-petalled, yellow flowers that are large and vibrant, infusing your garden with sunny summer colour and making a very attractive feature. Hypericum Hidcote flowers tend to blossom from May to August and are also popular amongst local pollinating wildlife, including bees and butterflies.
Is Hypericum x hidcoteense evergreen?
Award-winning Hypericum x hidcoteense ‘Hidcote’ (St. John’s Wort) is a dense, bushy, evergreen or semi-evergreen shrub boasting an abundance of large, golden-yellow flowers, 3 in. wide (7.5 cm), from early summer to early fall. Borne on reddish, twiggy stems, they are produced in great quantities and blanket the plant.
How do you grow Hypericum hidcoteense ‘Hidcote’?
Regarding drainage, Hypericum × hidcoteense ‘Hidcote’ likes to grow in moist but well drained or well drained soils. St John’s wort ‘Hidcote’ (Hypericum × hidcoteense ‘Hidcote’) is a plant that should be grown in full sun or partial shade positions.
How does Hypericum hidcoteense grow?
It is composed of relatively large mineral particles that allow water to drain quickly. It is not very sensitive to soil acidity or alkalinity and grows well in soils with pH acid, alkaline or neutral. Regarding drainage, Hypericum × hidcoteense ‘Hidcote’ likes to grow in moist but well drained or well drained soils.
Can Hypericum Hidcote be trimmed?
The Hypericum Hidcote a untrimmed hedge with stunning golden yellow color when able to be planted in mass groupings. The Hidcote Grows excellent in dry, rocky soils. This shrub has a slight fragrance and blooms well through out the summer season. Its best to cut the plant to the ground each year in early spring. Shipping calculated at checkout.