# Peelbark St. John's Wort (*hypericum fasciculatum*)

The Peelbark St. John's Wort (Hypericum fasciculatum) is an eye-catching, woody shrub native to the wetlands and seasonal ponds of the southeastern United States. Thriving in acidic, boggy soils, this resilient plant is easily recognized by its distinctive, papery bark that peels away in thin, reddish-brown sheets from older stems. During its peak blooming season, it produces a profusion of bright yellow flowers with dense clusters of bushy stamens, creating a stunning contrast against its dark green, needle-like foliage. This species plays an important role in its wetland ecosystems, acting as a stabilizer for shorelines and a critical pollen source for native bees and other pollinators.

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Snaps:** 1
- **Habitat:** Found in seasonal wetlands, cypress dome margins, wet pine flatwoods, and boggy depressions in the southeastern United States.

![Peelbark St. John's Wort](https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/4110277/medium.jpg)

Photo: Bob Peterson, CC BY 4.0 · [iNaturalist](https://www.inaturalist.org/photos/4110277)

## Appearance

This woody, multi-branched shrub typically grows 60 to 200 centimeters tall. Its most prominent features are its peeling, coppery-orange to reddish-brown bark and its narrow, pine-like leaves that grow in dense, tight clusters along the stems. The flowers, about 1.5 to 2.5 cm wide, feature five bright yellow petals surrounding a prominent, explode-of-fireworks cluster of numerous yellow stamens.

## Taxonomy

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

## Interesting facts

- Despite being a wetland plant, its needle-like leaves resemble those of desert plants, an adaptation to survive periods when the sandy soils dry out completely.
- The bright yellow flowers lack nectar, so they attract pollinators solely by offering massive quantities of pollen from their numerous stamens.
- The common name 'Peelbark' comes from its highly distinctive bark, which continuously flakes off in papery, thin sheets to reveal fresh layers beneath.

## Special abilities

- **Exfoliating Bark Protection:** Sheds its outer bark layers continuously to deter climbing vines, epiphytes, and potential pests while offering mild fire resistance.
- **Flood Tolerance:** Possesses specialized root adaptations that allow it to survive in oxygen-depleted, waterlogged soils for months at a time.
- **Fascicled Foliage:** Features tightly clustered, needle-like leaves that reduce surface area and limit water loss during dry seasonal spells.

## Measurements & details

- **Length:** 60-200 cm
- **Lifespan:** 5-20 years

## Diet & Feeding

As a photoautotrophic plant, it produces its own energy through photosynthesis, utilizing sunlight, carbon dioxide, and nutrients absorbed from wet, acidic soils.

- **Primary Foods:** Sunlight, Carbon dioxide, Water, Soil nutrients

## Ecological connections

- **Mutualism:** American Bumblebee (*Bombus pennsylvanicus*) — Collects pollen from the abundant stamens of the flowers, aiding in pollination.
- **Eaten by:** [White-tailed Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-tailed-deer) (*Odocoileus virginianus*) — May occasionally browse on the leaves and tender woody shoots during winter.
- **Mutualism:** Bald Cypress (*Taxodium distichum*) — Often grows in the understory or shallow margins of cypress dome habitats dominated by this tree.

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

No special safety notes yet.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Peelbark St. John's Wort?

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 long is Peelbark St. John's Wort?

60-200 cm

### How long does Peelbark St. John's Wort live?

5-20 years

### What does Peelbark St. John's Wort eat?

As a photoautotrophic plant, it produces its own energy through photosynthesis, utilizing sunlight, carbon dioxide, and nutrients absorbed from wet, acidic soils.

### Where is Peelbark St. John's Wort usually found?

Found in seasonal wetlands, cypress dome margins, wet pine flatwoods, and boggy depressions in the southeastern United States.

## Where to spot

- [Deep Creek Preserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/deep-creek-preserve) — Florida, US · Nature Reserve

## 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*)

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Source: [Peelbark St. John's Wort: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/peelbark-st-johns-wort)