Hypericum pulchrum facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Hypericum pulchrum
Scientific classification
Genus:	Hypericum
Species:	pulchrum

Hypericum pulchrum is a beautiful flowering plant often called slender St John's-wort. It belongs to the plant family Hypericaceae. This plant naturally grows in Western Europe.

What Does Slender St John's-wort Look Like?

The slender St John's-wort is a delicate plant that lives for many years. It grows from nine to eighteen inches (about 23 to 46 cm) tall. It has smooth, upright stems. Its leaves are heart-shaped and grow in opposite pairs along the stem. They often have tiny clear dots and their edges might curl inwards.

The plant produces bright yellow flowers at the top. Each flower has five small, rounded green parts called sepals, which have black dots on their edges. The five petals are red underneath and also have red and black dots. Inside the flower, there are many stamens (the parts that make pollen) with orange tips, grouped into three bundles. After the flower, a fruit forms that is a capsule. This capsule opens up to release its tiny seeds.

Where Does Slender St John's-wort Grow?

This plant likes specific types of soil. It prefers soils that do not have much lime or chalk. You can often find it in open, heathland areas, dry moorlands, and among rocks in higher, hilly regions. It also grows along the sides of roads, as long as the soil is not chalky.

Where Can You Find Slender St John's-wort?

The slender St John's-wort is native to many countries in Europe. These include Austria, Belgium, Britain, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland. It is quite common in suitable places across the United Kingdom.

This plant has also been introduced to New Zealand. There, it has spread and now grows across the South Island and the southern part of the North Island.