Myrtleleaf St. Johnswort: A Cheerful Native Shrub for Wet Spots
If you’ve got a soggy spot in your yard that seems impossible to plant, let me introduce you to your new best friend: myrtleleaf St. Johnswort (Hypericum myrtifolium). This delightful native shrub doesn’t just tolerate wet feet – it actually prefers them! With its sunny yellow flowers and compact size, this southeastern native might just be the perfect solution for those tricky waterlogged areas in your landscape.
What Makes Myrtleleaf St. Johnswort Special?
This perennial shrub is a true southeastern native, calling Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, and South Carolina home. Unlike many plants that sulk in wet conditions, myrtleleaf St. Johnswort thrives as a facultative wetland plant – meaning it’s happiest with its roots in moist to wet soil, though it can handle drier conditions if needed.
The plant gets its common name from its small, oval leaves that resemble those of myrtle plants. But the real showstopper is its bright yellow flowers, each sporting five cheerful petals that appear from spring through fall. This extended blooming period makes it a reliable source of color throughout the growing season.
Garden Role and Landscape Uses
As a multi-stemmed woody shrub that typically stays under 13-16 feet tall (though usually much smaller in garden settings), myrtleleaf St. Johnswort works beautifully in several landscape roles:
- Rain gardens and bioswales
- Naturalized wetland areas
- Native plant gardens
- Accent plantings near ponds or streams
- Wildlife habitat gardens
This shrub is particularly valuable in naturalistic landscapes where you want to create habitat while managing water runoff. It’s perfect for those areas where traditional garden plants might struggle with excess moisture.
Growing Conditions and Care
One of the best things about myrtleleaf St. Johnswort is how easy-going it is once you understand its preferences. Here’s what it loves:
- Light: Full sun to partial shade (though more sun typically means more flowers)
- Soil: Moist to wet soils – it can handle seasonal flooding like a champ
- Hardiness: Thrives in USDA zones 8-10
- Maintenance: Low maintenance once established
Planting and Care Tips
Getting your myrtleleaf St. Johnswort established is refreshingly straightforward:
- Plant in spring or fall when temperatures are moderate
- Choose the wettest spot in your yard – seriously, this plant loves water!
- Space plants according to mature size expectations
- Water regularly the first year, though established plants rarely need supplemental watering
- Prune lightly in late winter if needed to maintain shape
Benefits for Pollinators and Wildlife
Those bright yellow flowers aren’t just pretty to look at – they’re pollinator magnets! Bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects flock to the blooms throughout the long flowering season. By choosing this native plant, you’re supporting local ecosystem health while adding beauty to your landscape.
Is Myrtleleaf St. Johnswort Right for Your Garden?
This plant is an excellent choice if you:
- Have wet or seasonally flooded areas in your landscape
- Want to support native wildlife and pollinators
- Prefer low-maintenance plants
- Live in the southeastern United States
- Are creating a rain garden or naturalized wetland area
However, if you’re gardening outside its native range or in consistently dry conditions, you might want to consider other options more suited to your local climate and conditions.
With its cheerful flowers, wildlife benefits, and remarkable tolerance for wet conditions, myrtleleaf St. Johnswort proves that native plants can solve garden challenges while creating beautiful, functional landscapes. Sometimes the best garden solutions are the ones that have been growing in your region all along!
