The Perfect Bloom Time for St. John’s Wort

St. John’s wort is a beautiful flowering shrub that adds a pop of bright yellow to gardens in late spring and summer. Its cheery blossoms and hardy nature make it a favorite for many gardeners. But to get the most out of this plant it helps to understand its ideal bloom time.

Through research from reputable gardening resources, I learned that St. John’s wort blooms from late May through August in most regions. This gives it a relatively long bloom season compared to other flowering shrubs. By planting St. John’s wort, you can expect vibrant yellow flowers in your garden for nearly 3 months!

When to Expect the First St. John’s Wort Blooms

St. John’s wort is one of the later shrubs to kick off its bloom period While many other flowering shrubs like lilacs and viburnums start blooming in early spring, St John’s wort starts closer to late spring.

According to the sources I consulted, you can expect the first blossoms to open in late May or early June. This lines up with the feast day of St. John the Baptist on June 24th, which is how the plant got its common name. The blooms start around the time of this feast day.

So if you’re eager for the cheerful yellow flowers of St. John’s wort, late May is the earliest you’re likely to see them in most climates. The shrub needs the warmer days of late spring to trigger blooming.

How Long St. John’s Wort Blooms Last

While some flowering shrubs only bloom for a couple weeks, St. John’s wort blossoms keep going for months. This makes it a great choice if you want an extended bloom time.

The flowers start up in late May and continue through July and August. Sources report the bloom period lasting around 2-3 months on average. So you’ll get to enjoy the pops of yellow well into the summer!

St. John’s wort produces flowers on the current year’s growth. So pruning the shrub in early spring encourages lots of fresh, new wood that will be covered in blooms through the summer months.

Maximizing Bloom Time in Your Garden

To get the most out of your St. John’s wort’s bloom period, keep these tips in mind:

• Plant in full sun. St. John’s wort produces the most flowers when it gets at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day. Morning sun is especially important.

• Prune in early spring. This removes old wood and promotes the new growth that will be blanketed in flowers.

• Provide evenly moist soil. Let the soil dry out between waterings, but don’t let it get bone dry.

• Apply fertilizer once in early spring. A balanced organic fertilizer gives St. John’s wort the nutrients it needs for abundant blooms.

• Give it space. St. John’s wort can spread out 3 feet or more. Make sure to give it room to reach its full size.

• Propagate by seed or cuttings. Starting new plants from seed or cuttings lets you add more St. John’s wort to your garden for a bigger bloom display.

Caring for St. John’s Wort After Bloom Time

Once St. John’s wort finishes up its bloom time in late summer, there are still a few care tasks to take care of:

• Deadhead spent flowers by pinching or trimming off the faded blooms. This keeps the plant looking fresh.

• Water regularly until the first frost to keep the plant healthy going into dormancy.

• Cut the plant back to 6 inches in late fall after it goes dormant. This removes old wood and sets the stage for next year’s blooms.

• Mulch around the base with 2-3 inches of wood chips or bark to insulate the roots over winter.

With the right care after bloom time, your St. John’s wort will return bigger and better next year! It’s a very low maintenance shrub overall.

Enjoying St. John’s Wort Year After Year

By understanding the bloom time of St. John’s wort, you can plan your garden to showcase these yellow flowers each season. I hope these tips help you get the most out of St. John’s wort’s long bloom period.

The cheery yellow blossoms from late spring through summer will liven up your garden. And with proper care, this tough shrub will flower abundantly year after year.