Virginia marsh St. John's-wort

Hypericum virginicum

Virginia marsh St. John's-wort is a bright yellow flower that grows in wetlands. Its cheerful blooms can brighten up any marshy area and attract many little creatures.

Habitat: Wetlands

Appearance

The Virginia marsh St. John's-wort has slender reddish-green stems and small, oval leaves. Its bright yellow, star-shaped flowers, typically 1-2 cm wide, appear in clusters, often fading to a coppery orange hue. It's distinguished by its preference for wet, marshy areas.

KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderMalpighialesFamilyHypericaceaeGenusTriadenum

Virginia marsh St. John's-wort

Interesting facts

Its unique seeds are super tiny, like specks of dust, easily carried by wind or water!

Look closely! The yellow flowers can turn a lovely reddish-orange as they get older.

Some parts of St. John's-wort glow reddish-orange under a special UV light!

This plant is a wetland champion, happily growing where other plants find it too soggy!

Special abilities

Virginia marsh St. John's-wort can thrive in saturated soils because its roots tolerate low-oxygen conditions found in wet habitats.

Virginia marsh St. John's-wort has flowers that can change from bright yellow to a reddish-orange hue as they age, helping it attract pollinators.

Virginia marsh St. John's-wort has super tiny, dust-like seeds that are easily dispersed by wind and water to new wetland spots.

Measurements & details

Height: 10-60 cm
Spread: 5-20 cm
Flower Size: 1-2 cm
Bloom Season: Summer
Edible: No
Toxicity: Mild
Lifecycle: Perennial
Pollination Method: Insect

Ecological connections

pollinates

European honey bee

Apis mellifera

Visits flowers for nectar and pollen.

pollinates

Common eastern bumblebee

Bombus impatiens

A common visitor, aids in plant reproduction.

eats

St. John's-wort Casebearer Moth

Coleophora hypericiella

Its larvae feed on the plant's leaves.

Traits

Ornamental

Ornamental plants are cultivated primarily for their aesthetic appeal, enhancing landscapes and gardens with their attractive foliage, flowers, or form.

Summer Blooming

Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished.

Fragrant Flower

Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense.

Medicinal

Medicinal plants possess chemical compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat illnesses or maintain health.

Pollinator Magnet

Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.

Wetland

This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs.