What soil does Dummer's St John's wort grow in?

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

Is Dummer's St John's wort hardy?

Hardy down to -18 °C (USDA zone 6, RHS H6). In the colder parts of the country (Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén, Heves, Nógrád, Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg) it may not survive winter without protection.

How far from the house should Dummer's St John's wort be planted?

Plant it at least 1 m from buildings. Keep it at least 0.5 m from paving.

When does Dummer's St John's wort flower?

Flowering: June–October, yellow.

How much water does Dummer's St John's wort need?

Water need: medium. Drought tolerance: medium.

Dummer's St John's wort

Hypericum × dummeri

Dummer's St John's wort (Hypericum × dummeri) is a shrub. Light: full sun, part shade. Hardy down to -18 °C. Drought tolerance: medium. Sold in local shops from about HUF 2,600.

Illustration of Dummer's St John's wort — An illustration of the typical shape of the mature plant, not a photo.

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

A low, spreading, semi-evergreen shrub with reddish stems and blue-green leaves that bears large golden yellow cup-shaped flowers from early summer into autumn, followed by conical red seed capsules. Use it for edging, on a bank, in front of taller shrubs, massed as ground cover or in a tub, in sun or part shade; it accepts limy and poor soil and only resents wet ground in winter. Cut it back hard in late winter without worry: it regrows from the base and flowers on the new shoots the same year.

Watch out for

Sources differ widely on its hardiness and nursery experience rates it as frost tender: in Central Europe a hard, snowless winter strips the leaves and can kill the shoots back. Cut out the frosted growth in spring, the base usually resprouts; plant it in a sheltered spot and mulch the crown for winter. Hypericum rust can attack it: orange pustules under the leaves and early leaf drop; hard spring pruning and clearing fallen leaves help. In baking sun and dry soil the leaves may scorch.

Key facts

Light: Full sun, Part shade
Water need: Medium
Care: Low
Size after 10 years: 70 cm × 1 m
Hardiness: down to -18 °C
Foliage: Semi-evergreen
Flowering: J F M A M J J A S O N D June–October, yellow

Group	Shrub
Light	Full sun, Part shade
Size after 10 years	70 cm × 1 m
Ultimate size	0.5–1 m × 0.6–1.5 m
Hardiness	down to -18 °C (USDA 6, RHS H6)
Soil	Average garden soil, Clay, Sandy, Calcareous
Foliage	Semi-evergreen
Flowering	June–October, yellow
Water need	Medium
Drought tolerance	Medium
Maintenance	Low
Root aggressiveness	Low
Suckering	no
Spreading	Low
Distance from buildings	at least 1 m
Distance from paving	at least 0.5 m
Litter	not typical
Planting distance	60 cm
For dogs	no data
For cats	no data
For children	Mildly toxic (uncertain)
Typical price	from about HUF 2,600

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
size not stated	approx. HUF 2,600

Frequently asked questions

Data updated: October 13, 2026 · How our data is made

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