When does spotted St. John's wort bloom?

It typically flowers from June through August, producing clusters of small yellow blooms with distinctive black spotting on the petals.

What growing conditions does Hypericum punctatum prefer?

This forb does best in part sun with medium moisture, though it also tolerates drier soils once established, and is often found in old fields, meadows, and open woodland edges.

What insects visit the flowers of this plant?

Bees, beetles, and flies are commonly observed visiting the flowers, which offer pollen rather than nectar.

Is spotted St. John's wort easy to identify?

Look for the small black dots along the leaf margins and scattered across the yellow petals, a feature that gives the plant its common name.

What is the growth habit of this plant?

It is an herbaceous perennial forb that dies back each year and regrows from its root system in spring.

Is Spotted St. John's Wort toxic to livestock?

The USDA PLANTS Database does not flag Spotted St. John's Wort as toxic to livestock.

Is Spotted St. John's Wort HOA-friendly?

Spotted 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.

Spotted St. John's Wort

Name: Pollinator Patch
Author: Pollinator Patch

Hypericum punctatum

Last reviewed: September 2026

Hypericum punctatum, or spotted St. John's wort, bears small pale yellow flowers marked with black dots from June through August in meadows, open woods, and roadside edges across the eastern and central United States.

Toxicity unknown

Spotted St. John's Wort (Hypericum punctatum) 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.

The USDA PLANTS Database (opens in new tab) does not flag Spotted St. John's Wort as toxic to livestock.

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

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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.

Growing Spotted St. John's Wort

Grow Spotted St. John's Wort in part sun and medium water. Mature plants reach 12 to 36 inches tall and spread 6 to 18 inches wide. Expect low maintenance to keep it looking intentional in a front yard.

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.

Common questions

When does spotted St. John's wort bloom?: It typically flowers from June through August, producing clusters of small yellow blooms with distinctive black spotting on the petals.
What growing conditions does Hypericum punctatum prefer?: This forb does best in part sun with medium moisture, though it also tolerates drier soils once established, and is often found in old fields, meadows, and open woodland edges.
What insects visit the flowers of this plant?: Bees, beetles, and flies are commonly observed visiting the flowers, which offer pollen rather than nectar.
Is spotted St. John's wort easy to identify?: Look for the small black dots along the leaf margins and scattered across the yellow petals, a feature that gives the plant its common name.
What is the growth habit of this plant?: It is an herbaceous perennial forb that dies back each year and regrows from its root system in spring.
Is Spotted St. John's Wort toxic to livestock?: The USDA PLANTS Database does not flag Spotted St. John's Wort as toxic to livestock.
Is Spotted St. John's Wort HOA-friendly?: Spotted 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 vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists. 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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