How big does Aaron's beard grow?

About 60 cm × 1.2 m after ten years (height × width).

What soil does Aaron's beard grow in?

It tolerates these soils: average garden soil, clay, sandy, calcareous, acidic.

Is Aaron's beard hardy?

Hardy down to -23 °C (USDA zone 6, RHS H7). It gets through winter everywhere at lower altitudes, but may not survive unprotected in a mountain garden.

When does Aaron's beard flower?

Flowering: June–September, yellow.

How much water does Aaron's beard need?

Water need: medium. Drought tolerance: medium.

Aaron's beard

Hypericum calycinum

Aaron's beard (Hypericum calycinum) is a ground cover plant that reaches 60 cm × 1.2 m after ten years. Light: full sun, part shade, shade. Hardy down to -23 °C. Drought tolerance: medium. Sold in local shops from about €3.90.

Illustration of Aaron's beard — An illustration of the typical shape of the mature plant, not a photo.

What it's good for, and what it isn't

A knee-high, semi-evergreen dwarf shrub that forms a dense, weed-suppressing stand with its underground runners and carries large golden-yellow flowers with a tuft of stamens through summer. It copes with dry shade under trees and with slopes, so it works where other ground covers give up, although it flowers best in sun. It spreads hard and swamps smaller plants, so plant it only where it has room or where an edge or paving stops it.

Watch out for

In hard, snowless winters in Central Europe the leaves turn brown and the stems may die back, but it resprouts from the base and flowers on the new growth. Cutting or mowing it to the ground in early spring every two or three years renews it and keeps it dense. Hypericum rust is a common disease, causing orange-brown spots on the leaves; cut affected plants back and remove the foliage. Root rot can occur in permanently wet soil. Its runners push into neighbouring beds and it is hard to get rid of afterwards.

Key facts

Light: Full sun, Part shade, Shade
Water need: Medium
Care: Low
Size after 10 years: 60 cm × 1.2 m
Hardiness: down to -23 °C
Foliage: Semi-evergreen
Flowering: J F M A M J J A S O N D June–September, yellow

Group	Ground cover
Light	Full sun, Part shade, Shade
Size after 10 years	60 cm × 1.2 m
Ultimate size	30–60 cm × 0.4–1.5 m
Hardiness	down to -23 °C (USDA 6, RHS H7)
Soil	Average garden soil, Clay, Sandy, Calcareous, Acidic
Foliage	Semi-evergreen
Flowering	June–September, yellow
Water need	Medium
Drought tolerance	Medium
Maintenance	Low
Root aggressiveness	Low
Suckering	no data
Spreading	High
Distance from buildings	no data
Distance from paving	no data
Litter	not typical
Planting distance	45 cm
For dogs	no data
For cats	no data
For children	Toxic (uncertain)
Typical price	from about €3.90

Toxicity data is for information only. If your pet or child has eaten a plant, contact a vet or a doctor.

Sizes and prices available

The same plant is sold as a small pot and as a specimen several metres tall, and the price follows. Prices are rounded and for guidance only.

Size	Typical price
15-20 cm	approx. €3.90

Frequently asked questions

Data updated: October 8, 2026 · How our data is made

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