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Common St. John's-wort

Hypericum perforatum

-15
Harmful

Not native to West Virginia. How scores work Is it native here?

Profile 71%

Height
1–3 feet
Spread
9 inches–2 feet
Light
Full sun, Partial shade
Soil moisture
Usually moist
See native alternatives

Do not plant. Listed invasive in West Virginia.

Plant this instead

Choose your county to list local plants first.

  • Slender Flat-top Goldenrod
    Euthamia caroliniana

    Sun: Full sun, Partial shade. Soil: Usually moist. Flowers: Yellow.

    Similar growth form, height, spread

  • Zigzag Goldenrod
    Solidago flexicaulis

    Sun: Full sun. Soil: Somewhat dry to moist. Flowers: Yellow.

    Similar growth form, height, spread

  • Bluestem Goldenrod
    Solidago caesia

    Sun: Full sun, Partial shade. Soil: Somewhat dry to moist. Flowers: Yellow.

    Similar growth form, height, evergreen or deciduous

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At a glance

Life cycle
Perennial
Leaves
Deciduous

Not yet recorded · Bloom

Recorded in 16 West Virginia counties.

Also found with this plant

Wildlife whose habitat models include habitats this plant grows in, in West Virginia. Shared habitat, not food. 87 animals.

All wildlife of West Virginia

Ecological relationships

Who uses this plant?

What these records mean

22CaterpillarsGenus host records with ranges including WV

Genus host records with ranges including WV · Hypericum

  • Acleris maculidorsanaStained-Back Leafroller Moth
  • Choristoneura rosaceanaOblique-Banded Leafroller Moth, Rosaceous Leaf Roller
  • Dejongia lobidactylusLobed Plume Moth
  • Eupithecia miserulataCommon Eupithacia, Common Pug
  • Hyppa xylinoidesCommon Hyppa
  • Iodopepla u-albumBurgundy St. Johnswort Moth, White-Eyed Borer
  • Iridopsis ephyrariaPale-Winged Gray
  • Melanchra assimilisBlack Arches
  • Mocis latipesSmall Mocis, Striped Grass Looper
  • Nedra ramosulaGray Half-Spot
Show all 22
  • Nemoria bistriariaTwo-Striped Emerald, Red-Fringed Emerald
  • Nemoria tuscaroraAppalachian Emerald
  • Phlogophora irisOlive Angle Shades
  • Platynota flavedanaBlack-Shaded Platynota
  • Probole amicariaFriendly Probole
  • Sparganothis sulfureanaSparganothis Fruitworm Moth, Sulfur Leafroller, False Yellow-Head
  • Synchlora aerataWavy-Lined Emerald, Camouflaged Looper
  • Xestia c-nigrumSpotted Cut-Worm, Setaceous Hebrew Character, Lesser Black-letter Dart
  • Zale lunataLunate Zale
  • Agonopterix lythrella
  • Caloptilia hypericella
  • Xenotemna pallorana
Shropshire & Tallamy 2025, Lepidoptera of North America north of Mexico, ZooKeys 1261 (ODbL)
—BeesSoutheastern regional records
—Specialist beesPollen specialists
1BirdsRecorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim

Recorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim · Hypericum

  • Aythya collarisRing-necked Duck
Hurlbert, Olsen, Sawyer & Winner 2021, Avian Diet Database, Scientific Data 8: 260 (CC0)

Direct food only: birds recorded eating this genus across North America. Caterpillars on host plants also feed nesting birds. NC Native Plant Society: butterfly gardening

Growing and identification

Plant details

Family
Hypericaceae
Hardiness
Zones 3a–8b
Soil pH
Acidic to alkaline
Flower color
Yellow

What its natural habitat tells you

Safety has not been reviewed for this plant; check toxicity and thorns before planting.

Growing sources and scope
Also known as

Common St. John's wort; Common St. Johnswort; European St. Johnswort

Conservation status

West Virginia rankSNA
Global rankGNR
WV statusNot verified
Federal statusNot verified

Conservation source Global and federal source

Sources