Let's all give a shout out for Hypericums

They're prettier than burning bush/Euonymus alatus and you won't find them invading our natural areas.

Cedarglade St. John's-wort and Golden St Johnswort are a few of its common names.

Hyper-colored Hypericum frondosum is a vibrant mix of golds, reds, burgundies, oranges and fading greens that pop against the dark bark of neighboring trees. 

Native Habitat: Limestone cliffs; rocky hills; barrens

Golden St Johnswort puts on its fantastic hypercolored show beginning in late October or early November and keeps on glowing through most of December.

From November 2013

Hyper-colored fall foliage is only one of the reasons to plant Hypericum frondosum in your garden, but, if it's the one that motivates folks to plant a wildlife friendly shrub then I say let's promote its fall beauty every chance we get.

Who wouldn't fall for its vibrant oranges, reds, and yellows!

I am equally convinced that home owners will appreciate its other fantastic attributes~pollen rich golden flowers, blue-green summer foliage, maturing seedheads/seed capsules and exfoliating winter bark.

They just need more exposure to native beauties....so,  I invite skeptics to tour my garden.

They're blown away by the Hyper-colored Hypericums and open to hearing about its wildlife value! I love the oohs and ahhs. 

Wildlife bloggers and gardeners we can sell/promote this four season beauty as an alternative to invasive burning bush. 

How many of you have run into gardeners/home owners who assume that all plants sold at garden centers are native? A shocking amount of you have could raise your hands! Whenever a friend waxes poetically about the beauty of burning bush I always ask them if they think it's a native plant. They assume it is, like others, because it's sold in reputable garden centers. I use that opportunity to gently educate. Trust me, gentle is better and shaming people never works. I agree with them that burning bush has very nice fall color, then I wow them with all that Cedarglade/St. Johnswort has to offer.

• The species is a loose limbed beauty with golden flowers.
• Bluish green foliage stands out in the summer garden.
• Stunning hyper-colored fall foliage
• Showy seed capsules last all winter
• Exfoliating bark for year round good looks.
• Wildlife/Pollinator friendly: Bumbles, Syrphid flies and Halictid bees~all seeking pollen.
  
• It's endemic to forests/woodland that are adjacent to cedar glades.
• It tolerates the extremes when established~wet winters and dry summers.
• It blooms the first week in June.
• Zones 5 to 8; a Southeastern native.
• Grows quite nicely from seed.

Go team go! 
Promote team promote! 
Gentle, but, passionate works best!
xoxogail

PS. You may notice some older photos in my posts for the next month. I am healing from cataract surgery and hope to back to taking in focus photos soon! Thanks all.

Gail Eichelberger is a gardener and therapist in Middle Tennessee. She loves wildflowers and native plants and thoroughly enjoys writing about the ones she grows at Clay and Limestone. She reminds all that the words and images are the property of the author and cannot be used without written permission.