Hypericum hypericoides (Linnaeus) Crantz. Common name: St. Andrew's Cross. Phenology: May-Aug. Habitat: Dry forests and woodlands. Distribution: NJ, w. VA, c. KY, se. MO, and c. OK, south to s. FL and e. TX; West Indies; Mexico south to n. Central America.
Origin/Endemic status: Native
Taxonomy Comments: Very variable and probably warranting division into at least varieties. Coastal Plain (especially sandhill) plants are smaller- and narrower-leaved, and bluer in foliage color. The name Ascyrum linifolium Spach probably applies to the Coastal Plain entity. The Mexican-to Central-American populations seem unlikely to be conspecific.
Synonymy ⓘ: = Bah, C, Fl2, GW2, RAB, Tn, Va, W, WH3, Adams (1962), Adams (1973), Godfrey (1988); = Ascyrum hypericoides L. – Il; = Hypericum hypericoides (L.) Crantz ssp. hypericoides – Ar, FNA6, K1, K3, K4, Mo2, NcTx, Robson (1996); = n/a – Pa; > Ascyrum hypericoides L. – S, S13; > Ascyrum hypericoides L. var. hypericoides – F, G, Tat, Tx; > Ascyrum hypericoides L. var. oblongifolium (Spach) Fernald – F, G, Tx; > Ascyrum linifolium Spach – S, S13; < Hypericum hypericoides (L.) Crantz – Mex
Links to other floras: = Hypericum hypericoides ssp. hypericoides - FNA6
Wetland Indicator Status:
- Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FAC
- Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FACU
- Great Plains: FACU
- Midwest: FACU
- Northcentral & Northeast: FACU
Heliophily ⓘ: 5
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Horticultural Information
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Height: 1-3 ft.
plant sale text: St. Andrew's cross is a small, low growing shrub with a lovely, open mounding form. The showy, bright yellow flowers have 4 petals that are arranged in the shape of an "X". The older stems are reddish-brown, with shedding bark that can be quite attractive. St. Andrew's cross prefers well-drained, sandy soils and can be fairly drought-tolerant once established. The genus Hypericum supports up to 20 species of lepidoptera.
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native range: eastern & central U.S.