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Spotted St. John's Wort

Hypericum punctatum

Last reviewed: June 2026

Spotted St. John's Wort (Hypericum punctatum)
Photo: Robert H. Mohlenbrock. USDA SCS. 1991. Southern wetland flora: Field office guide to plant species. South National Technical Center, Fort Worth. Courtesy of USDA NRCS Wetland Science Institute. / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

Light

part sun

Water

medium

Size

12"–36" H × 6"–18" W

Bloom

Jun, Jul, Aug

Native to

AL, AR, CT, DE and 31 more states

Pollinators

bees, beetles, flies

Browse plants for this ecoregion

Central Oklahoma/Texas PlainsTexas Blackland PrairiesEast Central Texas PlainsSouth Central Plains

Dotted St. John's-wort is a native perennial wildflower that produces bright yellow, five-petaled flowers from June through August. This herbaceous plant forms modest clumps and goes dormant in winter, returning each spring with fresh green foliage.

In an HOA neighborhood

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

Works well in: backyard only.

  • Has a wild, weedy appearance that most HOAs would reject
  • Can spread and look unkempt in formal settings
  • Dies back completely in winter leaving bare spots

Wildlife value

The cheerful yellow blooms attract various pollinators including native bees, beetles, and flies during the summer months.

Native range data from the USDA PLANTS Database and regional native plant society lists. Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.

Does Spotted St. John's Wort fit your yard? Open it in Pollinator Patch to check it against your sun, soil, and HOA-conscious filters.

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