Audubon® Shrubby St. John's Wort

While the popular claims that St. John’s Wort extracts can cure depression are dubious at best, there is no doubt that Shrubby St. John’s Wort’s flowers in your garden will lift your spirits. The sunny yellow blooms, looking like powder puffs with their fluffy pompoms of threadlike stamens, make summer borders shine. The arrival of the blooms makes for happy bees, too, who eagerly gather the abundant pollen. Bumblebees relish the pollen, bringing it back to their nests to feed their young. A chipper little plant for mixed borders, cottage gardens, and native plantings, Shrubby St. John’s Wort is wonderful anywhere you need a dose of good cheer!

Various species of St. John’s Wort are native all over the world. As a result, this group of plants has had a long partnership with humans, and many myths have arisen regarding these plants. Ancient Greeks hung St. John’s Wort in their windows to ward off ghosts and evil demons. In Europe, one species was associated with John the Baptist, which is where St. John’s Wort got its name. Throughout the ages, the plant has been proposed as a cure for everything from bedwetting to depression to cancer. Science has not been able to substantiate those claims.

Shrubby St. John’s Wort flowers offer no nectar—only pollen—but that doesn’t prevent one pretty, petite butterfly from having an interest in the plant. The gray hairstreak lays its eggs on the foliage. Its little, pale green or pinkish caterpillars are no cause for alarm!

We do the hard part. Our trees and plants are grown and cared for by only the best, local growers for years before they find their forever home in your landscape. Bower & Branch is known for having hard-to-find, substantial sizes and selection. The quality of our trees and plants are consistent in health and vigor—always ready for immediate impact in your garden and instant curb appeal. We believe in empowering homeowners with the truth about strong, healthy and structurally sound plants that are grown to perform in the ground after they leave the nursery for home delivery, always fresh inventory from the grower

Audubon is devoted to protecting birds and the places they need, while Bower & Branch is devoted to the growth of true native trees and plants–no cultivars or hybrids. Together, we strive to unite communities in conservation and inspire individuals to cultivate a better world for birds starting in their own backyards, balconies, or patios. By guiding and recommending trees and plants truly native and beneficial to your region, we can really start to make a difference.

What is the definition of Native?

“In the United States, a native plant is defined as one that was naturally found in a particular area before European colonization. Native plants are the foundation of a region’s biodiversity, providing essential food sources and shelter for birds, especially those threatened by the changing climate. Since native plants are adapted to local precipitation and soil conditions, they generally require less upkeep, therefore helping the environment and saving you time, water, and money.” – The National Audubon Society

Learn how you can help birds in your home and community through Audubon’s Plants for Birds program.

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