Spotted St. Johnswort

Biological Name:

Hypericum punctatum (Spotted-St.-Johnswort)

Natural Habitat:

Spotted-St.-Johnswort: The spotted-St.-Johnswort grows in areas with dry, rocky soil, such as hillsides and open fields. It is commonly found in Europe and North America.

Description:

Spotted-St.-Johnswort also known as Hypericum is a plant that is native to forested and riparian areas of North America. It is a perennial herb that can grow up to three feet tall and it has small oval-shaped leaves and showy yellow or orange flowers that bloom in the summer. The plant is known for its distinctive spotted leaves and it is often used as an ornamental plant in gardens and landscapes.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: Is Spotted St John’s wort edible?
A: Edible Parts: While the plant is not ingestible in its raw form, the herb and the fruits can be used to make tea. The flowers can be used to flavor mead, as well. Medicinal Uses: St. John’s Wort has been used by herbalists for millennia.
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Q: What happens if you eat St. Johnswort berries?
A: When the plant is eaten, hypericin is absorbed and migrates to the skin. In light coloured areas of skin, UV light reacts with the hypericin and damages the cell membranes of the skin cells – a reaction known as photosensitivity.
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Q: Is St. Johnswort plant poisonous to dogs?
A: St. John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum), also known as Klamath weed, is a member of the Clusiaceae family and is toxic for dogs, causing photosensitization (sun sensitivity) and contact dermatitis.
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Q: Does St. Johnswort attract butterflies?
A: John’s Wort takes on a shrub-like form that can be pruned and shaped to the gardener’s liking. This ultra-hardy, non-fussy native wildflower thrives in almost any type of soil and attracts bees, caterpillars, and butterflies – it’s the host plant for the beautiful Gray Hairstreak butterfly. Deer and rabbit-resistant.
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Q: Where does St. Johnswort grow best?
A: Grow St. John’s wort in moist but well-drained soil in full sun to partial shade. Shrubby hypericums, such as Hypericum ‘Hidcote’ can become untidy and should be pruned in spring. If they’ve out-grown their space they can be cut back hard if necessary.
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Q: How do you consume St. Johnswort?
A: Dry herb (in capsules or tablets). The usual dose for mild depression and mood disorders is 300 mg (standardized to 0.3% hypericin extract), 3 times per day, with meals. St. … St. John’s wort is also available as a liquid extract or tea. Ask your doctor to help you find the right dose.
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Q: What does St. Johnswort taste like?
A: St. John’s Wort has a mild bitter taste that is comparable to black tea, and blends well with a variety of flavoring herbs without losing efficacy.
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Q: What is St James wort used for?
A: Several studies support the therapeutic benefit of St. John’s wort in treating mild to moderate depression. In fact, some research has shown the supplement to be as effective as several prescription antidepressants. It’s unclear whether it’s beneficial in the treatment of severe depression.
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Q: What does St John’s wort do to the brain?
A: Research suggests that St John’s wort works in a similar way to standard antidepressant medication, by increasing the activity of brain chemicals such as serotonin and noradrenaline that are thought to play an important part in regulating our mood.
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Q: How does St Johns Wort effect brain?
A: St. John’s wort is thought to work by keeping the brain from using up neurotransmitters like serotonin, dopamine, GABA, and norepinephrine. As a result, the neurotransmitters are more effectively used in the brain. This can have an antidepressant and overall feel-good effect in the brain.
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Q: Can St John’s wort be used for anxiety?
A: St. John’s wort has also been studied in the treatment of other mood disorders, such as severe depression, anxiety disorders, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), and seasonal affective disorder (SAD.) It’s also been used for insomnia, PMS, menopausal symptoms, and eczema.
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Q: What does St John’s wort do to hormones?
A: John’s Wort has to do with the immune system. In this system, the substance IL-6 is responsible for the communication between cells, and leads to an increase in adrenal regulatory hormones, a culprit of depression. St. John’s Wort may reduce the levels of this hormone to decrease depression.
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Q: Can I take St John’s wort everyday?
A: When taken by mouth: St. John’s wort is likely safe when used in doses up to 900 mg daily for up to 12 weeks. It can cause some side effects such as diarrhea, dizziness, trouble sleeping, restlessness, and skin tingling.
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Q: What should you avoid when taking St John’s wort?
A: John’s wort even if you and your doctor decide to stop taking an antidepressant. (Don’t stop taking an antidepressant on your own.) Avoid foods or drinks that contain a chemical called tyramine. These items include aged cheeses, cured meats, sauerkraut, soy sauce, miso, tofu, beer, and wine.
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Q: Does St John’s wort like sun or shade?
A: Light. Grow St. John’s wort in full sun in the North for best flower production. In the South, however, the plant profits from having a bit of shade.
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Q: What month does St John’s wort flower?
A: Depending on where you live, St. John’s Wort blooms around June to August, often peaking in late June around the summer equinox (June 21-ish). The summer equinox is also the traditional time for making tinctures and infused oils. However, if you’re in a different growing zone, you may find your St.
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Q: Does St John’s Wort bloom all summer?
A: Hypericum, also commonly known as St John’s Wort, has showy summery yellow flowers that can bloom in masses, some from early summer through early autumn.
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Q: How poisonous is St John’s wort?
A: In large enough amounts, St. John’s Wort is even toxic to humans. The main danger is the chemical Hypericin which causes photosensitivity in the skin, leading to severe rash and even skin death (necrosis). The chemical is mostly found in living plants and affects dogs, cats, and other livestock.
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Q: Why you shouldn’t take St John’s wort?
A: John’s wort with certain antidepressants can lead to a potentially life-threatening increase of serotonin, a brain chemical targeted by antidepressants. Symptoms occur within minutes to hours, and may include agitation, diarrhea, fast heartbeat, high blood pressure, hallucinations, increased body temperature, and more.
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Q: How does St John’s wort make you feel?
A: Side effects from St. John’s wort are generally mild and include stomach upset, hives or other skin rashes, fatigue, restlessness, headache, dry mouth, and feelings of dizziness or mental confusion. St. John’s wort can also make the skin overly sensitive to sunlight, called photodermatitis.
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Q: Is St John’s wort psychoactive?
A: St. John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum) as a psychoactive herbal medicine for the treatment of behavioral disorders in dogs.
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Q: Does St John’s wort make you gain weight?
A: There is no evidence to suggest that St. John’s wort causes weight gain directly.
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Q: Are St John’s wort berries edible?
A: John’s wort is technically edible, it is primarily used for medicinal purposes. It is a highly effective nervine and sedative herb with strong antidepressant properties. St. John’s wort is anti-inflammatory and is very good for reducing pain, particularly nerve pain.
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Q: Why is St John’s wort not prescribed?
A: St John’s wort has significant interactions with a large number of medicines which are in common use. This means that it may affect the way the body processes other medications, which may make them less effective, or increase the chances of harmful side effects.
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Q: When should you avoid St John’s wort?
A: It can also interfere with anti-rejection medications, heart medications, and some drugs used for heart disease, HIV, and cancer. One 2011 study indicated the herbal supplement can reduce the effectiveness of Xanax, an anxiety medication. Wolf noted that pregnant or breastfeeding women should avoid St. John’s wort.
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Q: How toxic are Hypericum berries?
A: The fruits and seeds of all Hypericum plants are considered toxic and will cause digestive distress if eaten.
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Q: Can you drink St John’s wort?
A: In research studies, taking St. John’s wort by mouth for up to 12 weeks has seemed to be safe. But because St. John’s wort interacts with many drugs, it might not be safe for many people, especially those who take conventional medicines.
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Q: What part of St John’s wort is medicinal?
A: The plant gets its name because it is often in full bloom around June 24, the day traditionally celebrated as the birthday of John the Baptist. Both the flowers and leaves are used as medicine.
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Q: Is St Johns Wort an invasive plant?
A: As an invasive, common St. John’s wort can replace native plants in natural ecosystems.
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Q: Does St. Johnswort grow back every year?
A: John’s Wort are perennial shrubs, and will come back every year to produce new growth and flower. There are some species that are semi evergreen, and some that are evergreen. The semi evergreen will lose some of its leaves. All species will flower on new growth, even the evergreen shrubs.
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Q: Where is the best place to plant St. Johnswort?
A: Growing St. John’s wort herb in a location with too much sun can lead to leaf scorch, while too much shade reduces the number of flowers. The best location is one with bright morning sunlight and a little shade in the hottest part of the afternoon.
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Q: What can I plant next to St. Johnswort?
A: Companion Plants: As it’s a heavy bloomer in midsummer, pair St. John’s Wort with complementary flowers to keep year round interest. In tough sites, use companions like Wood’s Purple Aster, Hairy Wild Petunia, Montrose White Calamint, or Pixie Meadowbriteâ„¢ Coneflower.
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Q: How do I get rid of St. Johnswort in my garden?
A: Liquid glyphosate formulations have been effective on St. John’s wort above the water line, but ineffective on plants in the water. They are broad spectrum, systemic herbicides. Systemic herbicides are absorbed and move within the plant to the site of action.
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Q: Should St. Johnswort be deadheaded?
A: Since this shrub blooms on the current season’s growth, spring pruning will not reduce flowers or berries. Do not deadhead St. John’s Wort if you want the berries to form. However, if you would like to prevent self-seeding, remove all the spent flowers before they set seed.
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About the author

Samuel is a gardening professional and enthusiast who has spent over 20 years advising homeowners and farm owners on weed identification, prevention and removal. He has an undergraduate degree in plant and soil science from Michigan State University.