Meet the neighbours · flower
St. John's Wort
A yellow-flowered perennial with a long folk history — and a few important cautions.
St. John's Wort is a short, woody perennial shrub, two to three feet tall, with fragrant yellow flowers. It is native to Europe but is now considered invasive or noxious in parts of North America.
The name comes from the Old English "wort," meaning "plant" — it was traditionally harvested on St. John the Baptist's feast day, June 24.
How to grow it
- Hardy and vigorous — plant with care, as it spreads and is considered noxious in some areas.
How to use & eat it
- Traditionally used as a mood elevator for mild-to-moderate depression, PMS, and seasonal affective disorder, most often as an infusion tea.
- Important caution: it should never be combined with prescription medications used for the same purpose, due to interaction risk.
- Large doses can cause sun sensitivity.