Hypericum prolificum – Shrubby St. Johnswort

An easy-to-please shrub for difficult situations with the added benefit of bright yellow flowers at the height of summer. Most effective when massed together in a shrub border. The stems are very stiff and erect but the overall effect is informal. Not a tremendous plant for wildlife, although bumblebees in particular seem to enjoy rolling around amidst the prominent flower stamens gathering pollen. The species occurs from Maine to Minnesota south to Texas and Florida. In New York it has a scattered distribution. While there are no herbarium records for Ulster County, we have found a stand of the plant near Ellenville that we believe is a naturally occurring population.