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Mystical Black St. John's Wort*

Hypericum 'Mystical Black'

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Mystical Black St. John's Wort (Hypericum 'Mystical Black') at Westwood Gardens

Mystical Black St. John's Wort flowers

Mystical Black St. John's Wort flowers

(Photo courtesy of NetPS Plant Finder)

* This is a "special order" plant - contact store for details

Height:  30 inches

Spread:  3 feet

Sunlight:  full sun  partial shade 

Hardiness Zone:  4b

Description:

Attractive yellow buttercup flowers are followed by beautiful large black berries carried above yellow calyces; dazzling fruit is the main attraction, these are one of the top 50 cut flower stems in the world; shows rust resistance

Ornamental Features

Mystical Black St. John's Wort has masses of beautiful yellow buttercup flowers at the ends of the branches from late spring to mid summer, which are most effective when planted in groupings. The flowers are excellent for cutting. It features an abundance of magnificent black berries from late summer to mid fall. It has green deciduous foliage. The narrow leaves do not develop any appreciable fall color.

Landscape Attributes

Mystical Black St. John's Wort is a multi-stemmed deciduous shrub with an upright spreading habit of growth. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other landscape plants with less refined foliage.

This shrub will require occasional maintenance and upkeep, and is best pruned in late winter once the threat of extreme cold has passed. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Mystical Black St. John's Wort is recommended for the following landscape applications;

  • Mass Planting
  • General Garden Use
  • Groundcover
  • Container Planting

Planting & Growing

Mystical Black St. John's Wort will grow to be about 30 inches tall at maturity, with a spread of 3 feet. It tends to fill out right to the ground and therefore doesn't necessarily require facer plants in front. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 5 years.

This shrub does best in full sun to partial shade. It prefers dry to average moisture levels with very well-drained soil, and will often die in standing water. It is considered to be drought-tolerant, and thus makes an ideal choice for a low-water garden or xeriscape application. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. Consider applying a thick mulch around the root zone in winter to protect it in exposed locations or colder microclimates. This particular variety is an interspecific hybrid. It can be propagated by division; however, as a cultivated variety, be aware that it may be subject to certain restrictions or prohibitions on propagation.

Mystical Black St. John's Wort makes a fine choice for the outdoor landscape, but it is also well-suited for use in outdoor pots and containers. With its upright habit of growth, it is best suited for use as a 'thriller' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination; plant it near the center of the pot, surrounded by smaller plants and those that spill over the edges. It is even sizeable enough that it can be grown alone in a suitable container. Note that when grown in a container, it may not perform exactly as indicated on the tag - this is to be expected. Also note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.

 

* This is a "special order" plant - contact store for details

 
 
Hardiness Zone Plant Height Minimum Sunlight
Characteristics
Massing  Garden  Groundcover  Container 
Applications
Flowers  Fruit 
Ornamental Features