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Hypericum androsaemum 'Albury Purple'
St. Johnswort
Plant Type:
DECIDUOUS SHRUBSHypericum androsaemum ‘Albury Purple’ – Dark red-purple velvety leaves on stems up to 1.5’ tall are topped with .75” yellow St. Johnswort flowers in clusters. Pretty juicy red berries follow at the tips of branches which mature to glossy black in late season. We like this plant a lot. However, we have have lost it outright in harsh winters without adequate snow cover in USDA zone 5b. But it usually comes through our unpredictable winters unscathed though clearly this subshrub will be happier in zones 6 and 7. In the north spring planting is strongly advised.
Characteristics and Attributes for Hypericum androsaemum 'Albury Purple'
Season of Interest (Flowering)
- Summer
Season of Interest (Foliage)
- Spring / Summer / into Autumn
Autumn Interest
- Fruit / Berries / Seed Heads
- Autumn Leaf Color
Nature Attraction
- Deer Resistant
- Honey Bees & Native Bees
Light
- Full Sun
Attributes
- Border
- Accent
- Foundation
- Drought Tolerant
- Rock Garden
- Edging
- Shrub Border
- Massing
- Specimen
- Wildlife Garden
Growth Rate in the Garden
- Medium
Soil
- Average
- Draining
Origins
- Garden Origin
Propagated By
- Cutting Grown
Genus Overview: Hypericum
Common Name: St. Johnswort
St. Johnswort is easy, tough and dependable – they should be planted more! All have attractive sunny golden-yellow flowers, appreciate siting in full sun and planted in any decent garden soil that drains well, sandy soils are fine. They are untroubled in the north but apparently, according to Michael Dirr, they can be plagued farther south – where the cutoff is we do not know; we’re guessing the warm end of USDA zone 7. They are relatively underutilized and worthy of consideration if you live in a climate in which they will make you smile. All of the following offerings are cutting grown.