Shrubby St. Johns Wort (Hypericum prolificum)

Shrubby St. John's wort is a dense, mound shaped deciduous shrub reaching 2 to 5 feet tall and wide, recognized by its shredding brownish bark and glossy, blue/green linear leaves. It thrives in full sun to part shade and is remarkably adaptable to dry to moist soils, including heavy clay. It is a high value pollen factory; its bright yellow, pom-pom like flowers with explosive clusters of central stamens are a magnet for a wide variety of pollinators. It also serves as a critical host plant for the Gray hairstreak butterfly and various specialized leaf beetles. Because the fresh or dried flowering tops possess a mild, resinous, and slightly tart flavor, they are frequently harvested to be used in herbal teas or infusions.