Hypericum 'Methyra' RADIANCE St. John's Wort
Symbivit Tric (arbuscular)
Symbivit (arbuscular)Hypericum
St. John’s Wort belongs among folk remedy herbs. It has been a popular and effective herb for centuries and still today it is widely available next to the most common herb remedies in every good drugstore. In ornamental landscaping, especially shrubby species are highly valued for their profuse flowering and woody structure. However, there’s at least one unique variety which, rather than flowers, boasts extremely attractive foliage. It is called RADIANCE and was selected by Marc Etienne from France and introduced in 2020.
RADIANCE is a low-growing shrubby St. John’s Wort with coloured foliage. In early spring, its leaves emerge dark salmon-pink along salmon pink twigs. As they mature, pink shades vanish, and the almost white leaves exhibit pale green marbling similar to Hakuro Nishiki or Flamingo Japanese willows. Later on they turn completely green while new twigs shoot up showing pink shades again. This routine keeps on repeating until autumn, so the plant is colourful during the whole growing season. The leaves are narrowly ovate to oval, only about 3-4 cm long and last long into winter.
From early June scarcely appear bright golden-yellow 5-petalled flowers, but they are not the key feature of this variety since RADIANCE is cultivated mostly for its variegated leaves. It is popular in mixed borders, in mass plantings, as well as in planters on patios and balconies.
Last update 06-03-2023
Majority of shrubby species of St. John's wort needs hard pruning for best results. It rejuvenates the plants which then exhibit denser branching and more compact habit. Cut off 50-80% of the previous year's growths, ideally in late March after all frosts. St. John’s wort does not require feeding if your soil is reasonably fertile. Grow it in well-drained soil with no standing water. It will be happy both in full sun and part shade. It is hardy to approx. -27 �C (USDA zone 5b), possibly a little more.
