Seasonal Wild Flowers

Latin name

Hypericum humifusum

Family

Hypericaceae

Flowering season

June to September,

However, the pictures shown here from the Scilly Islands

were taken in late April.

English distribution

It is scattered throughout the county but is much less

common in the Midlands and the Northeast.

See the BSBI distribution map for Trailing St John's-wort

Habitat

It grows on light acidic soils on heaths, moors and open

woodland, and beside tracks and roads. 

It may be on the decline.

Description

Trailing St John's-wort is a native, perennial, protrate herb.

Flowers are small at up to 12mm across.

There are 5 bright yellow petals with peripheral black

glands and numerous yellow stamens with yellow

anthers.

There are 3 yellow linear styles with capitate, reddish

stigmas.

The black glands on the sepals can be sessile or stalked.

Leaves are opposite, broadly oval and have black glands on

the margins.

Stems are green or red, wiry and up to 20cm.