# goldwire (*Hypericum concinnum*)

Goldwire is a bright and cheerful plant with lovely yellow flowers. It grows in sunny places and can be found in fields and meadows, adding a splash of color to nature's palette.

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Snaps:** 1
- **Habitat:** Fields and meadows

![goldwire](https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/374828/medium.jpg)

Photo: no rights reserved, CC0 · [iNaturalist](https://www.inaturalist.org/photos/374828)

## Appearance

The goldwire has slender, wiry stems with small, oval leaves. Its bright yellow, star-shaped flowers bloom in clusters, featuring many showy stamens that make them look fuzzy and golden. The overall plant appears delicate yet vibrant, brightening its habitat.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida
- **Order:** Malpighiales
- **Family:** Hypericaceae
- **Genus:** Hypericum

## Interesting facts

- Despite its sunny look, some parts of this plant glow under a UV light!
- Goldwire's delicate stems can feel surprisingly like thin, tough wires!
- Look closely, its leaves have tiny see-through dots, like secret windows!
- The plant's scientific name means 'very beautiful,' just like its stunning flowers!

## Special abilities

- **Sunshine Signal:** Goldwire has bright, star-shaped yellow flowers that act like a beacon, helping it attract busy bees and other insects for pollination.
- **Rooted Resilience:** Goldwire can thrive in dry, rocky soils, thanks to its tough root system that helps it find water where other plants struggle.
- **Seed Spreader:** Goldwire produces small capsules filled with tiny seeds, which helps it spread its offspring to new sunny spots.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 10-50 cm
- **Spread:** 15-30 cm
- **Flower Size:** 1-2 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Late spring to summer
- **Edible:** No
- **Toxicity:** Mild
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** European Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Drinks nectar and collects pollen.
- **Pollinates:** Yellow-faced Bumblebee (*Bombus vosnesenskii*) — Visits flowers for nectar and pollen.
- **Pollinates:** [Cabbage White](https://www.snappit.app/explore/cabbage-white) (*Pieris rapae*) — Sips nectar from the bright flowers.

## Traits

- [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons.
- [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
- [Summer Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/summer-blooming): Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished.
- [Medicinal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/medicinal): Medicinal plants possess chemical compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat illnesses or maintain health.
- [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
- [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals.
- [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.

## Collections

- [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Always look but don't touch plants unless you're sure they are safe.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify goldwire?

Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is goldwire?

10-50 cm

### How wide does goldwire spread?

15-30 cm

### How big are the flowers on goldwire?

1-2 cm

### When does goldwire bloom?

Late spring to summer

### Is goldwire edible?

No

### Is goldwire toxic?

Mild

### What is goldwire's lifecycle?

Perennial

## Where to spot

- [Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/armstrong-redwoods-state-natural-reserve) — California, US · State Park

## More Plants

- [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*)
- [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*)
- [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*)
- [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*)

---

Source: [Goldwire: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/goldwire)