When does Marsh St. John's wort bloom?

It typically flowers from June through August, producing small pink to rose blooms clustered along upright stems.

What kind of light does Marsh St. John's wort need?

It grows best in part sun but can tolerate a range from full sun to part shade, especially where soil stays consistently moist.

How much water does this plant require?

Marsh St. John's wort needs consistently high moisture and is well suited to wet, boggy, or seasonally flooded soils rather than dry sites.

What pollinators visit Marsh St. John's wort?

Bees, butterflies, and beetles are regular visitors to its flowers, drawn to the pollen since the blooms do not produce nectar.

Is Marsh St. John's wort a shrub or a perennial forb?

It is an herbaceous forb, dying back to the ground each year rather than developing woody stems.

Is Marsh St. John'S Wort HOA-friendly?

Marsh St. John'S Wort takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

Marsh St. John'S Wort

Name: Pollinator Patch
Author: Pollinator Patch

Hypericum virginicum

Last reviewed: August 2026

Marsh St. John's wort is a wetland forb that blooms pink to rose flowers from June through August. It thrives in consistently wet, part sun sites such as marshes, bogs, and pond edges.

Toxicity unknown

Marsh St. John'S Wort (Hypericum virginicum) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.

Light

part sun

Water

high

Size

12"–24" H × 6"–12" W

Bloom

Jun, Jul, Aug

Native to

AL, AR, CT, DE and 26 more states

Pollinators

bees, butterflies, beetles

Before you buy

Your city may pay you to plant this

Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 452 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.

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Browse plants for this ecoregion

Northeastern Highlands Northeastern Coastal Zone Northern Allegheny Plateau Northern Forests Middle Atlantic Coastal Plain Southeastern Plains Ridge and Valley Southern Coastal Plain Atlantic Coastal Pine Barrens

Hypericum virginicum, also known as Marsh St. Johnswort, is a compact native perennial that produces bright yellow flowers from June through August. This moisture-loving plant forms neat clumps in partially shaded areas and requires consistently moist to wet soil conditions.

Growing Marsh St. John'S Wort

Grow Marsh St. John'S Wort in part sun and high water. Mature plants reach 12 to 24 inches tall and spread 6 to 12 inches wide. Expect high maintenance to keep it looking intentional in a front yard.

In an HOA neighborhood

Marsh St. John'S Wort takes more care to keep looking intentional in a front yard. Maintenance level: high. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

Works well in: backyard only.

Requires consistently wet soil which may appear boggy
Can look sparse or untidy in typical landscape settings
May struggle and appear stressed in conventional garden conditions

Wildlife value

The cheerful yellow blooms attract bees, butterflies, and beetles throughout the summer months. This native hypericum provides important nectar resources for pollinators in wet garden areas.

Common questions

When does Marsh St. John's wort bloom?: It typically flowers from June through August, producing small pink to rose blooms clustered along upright stems.
What kind of light does Marsh St. John's wort need?: It grows best in part sun but can tolerate a range from full sun to part shade, especially where soil stays consistently moist.
How much water does this plant require?: Marsh St. John's wort needs consistently high moisture and is well suited to wet, boggy, or seasonally flooded soils rather than dry sites.
What pollinators visit Marsh St. John's wort?: Bees, butterflies, and beetles are regular visitors to its flowers, drawn to the pollen since the blooms do not produce nectar.
Is Marsh St. John's wort a shrub or a perennial forb?: It is an herbaceous forb, dying back to the ground each year rather than developing woody stems.
Is Marsh St. John'S Wort HOA-friendly?: Marsh St. John'S Wort takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

These answers were drafted with an AI model from this plant's data. Verify care details with a local expert.

Native range data from the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew). Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.

If something looks wrong

Common plant problems, and what to check first

These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.

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Ready to grow Marsh St. John'S Wort? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.

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