St. Andrew’s-cross
Hypericum hypericoides
Hypericaceae


Landscape Uses:

Primarily recommended for natural landscapes and habitat restorations. Also wildflower gardens.

Ecological Restoration Notes:

Availability:
Grown by enthusiasts and some native plant nurseries.
Description:
Small shrubby wildflower.
Height:
About 2-3 feet in height. About as broad as tall.
Growth Rate:
Moderate.
Range:
Eastern and central United States west to Kansas and Texas and south to the Monroe County Keys; West Indies, Mexico and Honduras. In the Monroe County Keys, known only from Big Pine Key in the lower Keys.
Habitats:
Pinelands, hammocks and swamp margins.
Soils:
Moist to seasonally wet, moderately well-drained sandy or limestone soils, with humusy top layer.
Nutritional Requirements:
Moderate; can grow in nutrient poor soils, but needs some organic content to thrive.
Salt Water Tolerance:
Low; does not tolerate long-term flooding by salt or brackish water.
Salt Wind Tolerance:
Moderate; grows near salt water, but is protected from direct salt spray by other vegetation.
Drought Tolerance:
Moderate; generally requires moist soils, but tolerant of short periods of drought once established.
Light Requirements:
Full sun to light shade.
Flower Color:
Yellow.
Flower Characteristics:
Semi-showy.
Flowering Season:
Summer-fall.
Fruit:
Inconspicuous capsule.
Wildlife and Ecology:
Provides some food and cover for wildlife. Attracts pollinators.
Horticultural Notes:
Can be grown from seed. Harvest seed when mature, but before it becomes dried out.
Comments:
See also the Florida Wildflower Foundation's Flower Friday page.


Shirley Denton
Shirley Denton
Shirley Denton