The genus Hypericum has been used medicinally since the 1st Century AD. In the Middle Ages, some species were made into potent potions to ward off evil spirits.

We don’t claim healing benefits or magical powers for St. John’s wort. But it does flower for quite a spell, and no evil spirits have been detected in our greenhouses.

We’re bewitched by this semi-evergreen, semi-shrubby perennial for more obvious reasons. It’s a marvelous, low-maintenance ground cover, slathered with yellow rose-like blooms in summer. And it flourishes in a wide range of light conditions, from full sun to the dim light under trees. Its leaves are rich green in sun, paler in shade. It stands 12 to 18 inches tall, and is hardy in Zones 5 to 9.