Clasping St. Johnswort (Hypericum gymnanthum)

Several Hypericum species grow in this area: Flatwoods St. John's-wort (Hypericum microsepalum), St. Andrew's Cross (Hypericum hypericoides), Spotted St. Johnswort (Hypericum punctatum), and Clasping St. Johnswort (Hypericum gymnanthum) are the most common. Clasping St. Johnswort is the first to bloom. It’s a short plant; it only grows about 18 – 24 inches high. The flowers are about 3/8 inches across – tiny compared Flatwoods St. John’s-wort or St. Andrew’s Cross. It’s easy to miss this plant as a young plant. It will grow into a short dense ‘shrub’ with time.

At home, it grows on the ledge above the creek by the frog pool. At Fort Yargo State Park, it grows along the trail south of the Fishing Area (segment 13).

A young plant; essentially single stems about 24 inches tall, The flowers are hardly visible.

A closer view of a flower and leaves.

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Closer views of the flower.

An older plant that has branched and become more shrub-like.

Hypericum gymnanthum (Clasping St. Johnswort) is native to the eastern United States.
Click on an image to view a larger image

Distribution Map:
- United States Department of Agriculture Plants Database: Hypericum gymnanthum (Claspingleaf St. Johnswort)

Identification resources:
- Southeastern Flora: Clasping St. Johnswort (Hypericum gymnanthum)

Related posts:
- 2010: Year Of The Wildflower – Wildflower Index