St John's Wort
Hypericum perforatum
Family: Hypericaceae
What it is like
A herb. It keeps growing from year to year. It grows 20-60 cm high. It is hairless. It spreads and roots at the base. The stems are erect and have 2 raised lines. The leaves are opposite and narrowly oval. They do not have stalks but have large dots which let light through. The flowers are yellow and 18-22 mm wide.
There are about 400 Hypericum species. It is used in medicine. It has anticancer properties. It is poisonous to animals. Also put in the family Clusiaceae.
Where it is found
It is a temperate plant. In China it grows between 100 and 1800 m altitude on grasslands and open woodlands. It grows in dry habitats. In Argentina it grows between sea level and 1,900 m above sea level. Tasmania Herbarium.
Countries/locations it is found in
Africa, Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Asia, Australia, Austria, Balkans, Belarus, Bosnia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Caucasus, Central Asia, Chile, China, Crete, Croatia, Cuba, Europe, Finland, France, Georgia, Greece, Haiti, India, Italy, Kazakhstan, Korea, Kygryzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Mediterranean, Mongolia, Montenegro, North Africa, North America, Norway, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Scandinavia, Serbia, Slovenia, South America, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Tasmania, Turkey, Türkiye, Ukraine, Uruguay, USA, West Indies
How it is used for food
CAUTION: It is most likely poisonous making the skin sensitive to light. The toxic chemical is hypericin. The leaves have a lemon scent and are used as food and for tea. They are dried for tea. The leaves are boiled in water then fried. The flowers and flower buds are also eaten and used for tea.
It is mainly used in medicine. It is sold in local markets.
Edible parts
Leaves, caution, spice, flowers - tea
How it is grown
Plants can be grown from seed or by division.
Its other names
Local names
Arevqurik, Bassant, Balsana, Dendhu, Esperke, Fotarga, Gospina trava, Guan ye lian qiao, Hiperico, Johannesurt, Johanniskraut, Kantarion zuti, Kantaron, Kuzmanhattu, Lule kuqe, Millepertouitt, Perforate St John's-wort, Pericon, Prikkperikum, Sari kantaron, Sentjanževka, Shen chai, Spathohorto, Srohund, Zveroboi