Hypericum perforatum subsp. perforatum (St. John's wort, "Seiyotogiri")

Japanese name: セイヨウオトギリ （西洋弟切）
Scientific name: Hypericum perforatum subsp. perforatum

[Overview]
A perennial 30–60 cm tall.
It spreads by underground stems and forms colonies.
The stem is erect, has two ridges, and branches freely.
Leaves are simple and opposite, elliptic to linear, 1.5–3 cm long, with translucent glandular dots and black glandular dots along the leaf margin.
Cymes at the branch tips bear many flowers.
The flowers are yellow with 5 petals, 1.5–3 cm across, with many yellow stamens.
The petal edges are wavy and have black dots.
The flowers have a lemon-like fragrance.

[Uses]
It is used medicinally and as herbal tea.

[Cultivation]
Propagate from seed, by cuttings, or by division.
It prefers a sunny site with good drainage and good water retention, and dislikes dryness.
Direct summer sun and dryness can cause leaf scorch, so it may also be grown in partial shade.
It spreads by underground stems, so to keep it from multiplying too much, make a frame underground or plant it in a large pot and bury the pot.
Water when the soil surface dries.
Do not let it dry out during the flowering season.
Fertilizer is hardly necessary, but if applied, give a small amount after flowering.

[Notes]
It flowers around June 24, the feast day of St. John (John the Baptist), and the English name derives from the fact that it was traditionally harvested on that day.

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