St. John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum) is a sprawling, leafy herb with yellow flowers that grows in open, disturbed areas throughout much of the world’s temperate regions.
Used in traditional European medicine as far back as the ancient Greeks, the name St. John’s wort refers to John the Baptist because the plant blooms around the time of the feast of St. John the Baptist in late June.
Historically, St. John’s wort has been used for a variety of conditions. Today it’s primarily used for depression, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), obsessive-compulsive disorder, somatic symptom disorder (exaggerated anxiety about physical symptoms) and menopausal symptoms.
St. John’s wort is also used topically for wounds, muscle pains and bruises.
The science backs many of the health claims associated with St. John’s wort. It has been recognized as an important source of several biologically active classes of compounds, such as naphthodianthrones (hypericin), phloroglucinols (hyperforin), flavonoids and flavonoid glycosides.
But St. John’s wort also comes with warnings. The plant can be harmful to pets and livestock and can interfere with prescription drugs. In research studies, taking St. John’s wort by mouth for up to 12 weeks has seemed to be safe. But because St. John’s wort interacts with many drugs, it might not be safe for many people, especially those who take conventional medicines.
St. John’s wort can weaken the effects of medicines such as:
- Some heart medications, including digoxin and ivabradine
- Antidepressants
- Birth control pills
- Cyclosporine, which prevents the body from rejecting transplanted organs
- Some HIV drugs, including indinavir and nevirapine
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Still, St. John’s wort is an easy plant to grow in U.S. zones 5-10, and can be beneficial if applied and harvested correctly. Some cultivars grow into little shrubs with cheery yellow flowers that have a burst of long, showy stamens in the center.
The blossoms last from midsummer until fall, and they are followed by colorful berries.
But keep in mind that St. John’s wort is a slow grower initially. You can start St. John’s wort from seeds indoors, but it will take about three months for the seeds to germinate. You can also sow the seeds outdoors on the surface of the soil in autumn or early spring.
People often grow St. John’s wort outdoors in containers or herb gardens. St. John’s wort also makes an attractive ground cover and soil stabilizer. Once established, the plants need no care, and this makes them ideal for out-of-the-way locations. You can also use St. John’s wort as an edging or to mark boundaries and pathways where you don’t want to obstruct the view.
Where to Plant
The best location is one with bright morning sunlight and a little shade in the hottest part of the afternoon.
Soil Prep
The plant isn’t particular about the soil type. It grows well in sand, clay, rocky soil or loam, and tolerates acidic to slightly alkaline pH. St. John’s wort adapts to both moist and dry soil, and even tolerates occasional flooding. It also withstands drought but grows best with irrigation during prolonged dry spells.
However, if you are going to use transplants rather than seed, prepare the bed before transplanting if your soil isn’t very fertile. Consider spreading about 2 inches of compost or rotted manure over the area and work it into a depth of 8 inches or more.
Spacing
St. John’s wort grows between 1 and 3 feet in height and spreads to 2 feet. So it’s a good idea to space transplants from 2 to 3 feet apart.
Watering
Water slowly and deeply after planting and keep the soil moist until the transplants are well-established.
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This Is How You Harvest St. John’s Wort for Health Benefits
To harvest St. John’s wort, you can pick the fresh flowers and buds, or a quicker method is to simply cut the top 2 – 3 inches of the plant when it is in full bloom.
Tip: Roll a flower bud between your fingers, and if you see a deep purple stain, your plants are ready for harvest.
There are several ways to use freshly harvested St. John’s wort. One way is as a tea, which has a light, lemony flavor. Steep 2 – 3 teaspoons of fresh flowers in hot water for four minutes, and then strain the flowers out.
Making a medicinal oil from St. John’s wort is also a popular usage. You do this by infusing fresh flowers into vegetable oil. Then place the concoction in a sunny window for one month. When the oil turns a brilliant red, strain out the plant material, bottle it and label it.
St. John’s wort oil has many uses such as a facial oil, for back pain, help heal wounds, arthritis and assisting with sprains and bruises.
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Note: While St. John’s wort can provide health benefits, it’s still best to check with your healthcare provider before taking St. John’s wort.
