Great Saint John's wort, Yellow crabapple
Hypericum ascyron

Family: Hypericaceae

What it is like

A herb which keeps growing from year to year. It grows 50-80 cm high. It can be 2 m tall and have a few stems which hang down. It spreads 30-75 cm wide. The leaves are shiny and pointed. They are paler underneath. The flowers are reddish yellow. They are star shaped. They are 8 cm across.

There are about 370-400 Hypericum species. They are mostly temperate. In the tropics they are confined to high altitudes. Also put in the family Clusiaceae.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. In China it grows from sea level to 2800 or 3600 m altitude. It grows in the eastern forests in Manchuria. It suits hardiness zones 3-9.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Australia, Canada, China, Indochina, Japan, Korea, Manchuria, Mongolia, North America, Russia, SE Asia, USA, Vietnam

How it is used for food

The leaves are used as tea. They are dried. CAUTION: It is reported to be toxic.

Edible parts

Leaves - tea, flower buds

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Ban ro, Huang hai tang

Synonyms

Hypericum pyramidatum;