ST. JOHN’S WORT
Other Common Names Include: Warriors wound, amber, goatweed, touch and heal, hundred holes, terrestrial sun, grace of God and herb of St. John
Latin Name: Hypericum perforatum
Plant Family: Hypericaceae (Guttiferae
Close Relatives: No close commercial or weedy relatives in Ontario
Uses and Markets: Medicinal; natural health product (e.g. depression, nervous system disorders, etc.)
Production Life Cycle in Ontario
Perennial
Hardiness Zone
3
Special Notes
The temperature during germination must be lower than 20°C (optimally 15°C), otherwise germination is inhibited.
Propagation method
Most commonly by transplants from seeds, less commonly by direct seeding, division (spring or autumn), cuttings.
Greenhouse Seeding/Propagation Dates
Late winter
Field Seeding Date:
Spring
Field Transplanting Dates
Spring, 8-10 weeks after seeding.
In-row spacing
15-30 cm
Between row spacing
40-75 cm
Optimal Soil temperature at planting
N/A
Fertility
No current Ontario fertility recommendations exist. Research and recommendations from outside Ontario do not necessarily apply to Ontario growing conditions. In Saskatchewan, research has shown minimal effects of nitrogen on fresh and dry herb yields. Research from Iran and Chile has shown an increase in yield up to 250 kg/ha N, but medicinal quality may be reduced at these rates. Click here for phosphorus and potassium application guidelines and for more information on specialty crop fertility.
Soil type
Well-drained soils; sandy soils.
Soil pH
Acidic to alkaline soils.
Special requirements for growth habit
None
Optimal Temperature Range
Temperate climate
Temperature sensitivity
Frost sensitive (young tissues only).
Irrigation requirements
Irrigation is beneficial under normal Ontario conditions.
Days to harvest
Early summer starting in year 2, harvest at 50% bud and 50% flower stage.
Specialized equipment
Forage harvester.
Harvest
Flowering tops (top 20 cm optimal).
Harvest Scheduling
1-2 annual harvests
Hand harvest or machine harvest
Hand harvest or machine harvest
Quality parameters/grades
No established grades. Quality is determined by the market. Sold fresh or dried.
Additional Harvest Notes
Harvest in morning when oil content is highest.
Post harvest
Special handling/curing
Handle carefully to avoid bruising.
Storage Conditions
Relative humidity (RH): Low humidity after drying, high humidity for fresh.
Drying Temperature: 30-40°C
Temperature: 4°C
Air Exchange: N/A
Duration: 7 months after drying
Specific pests observed on this crop in Ontario (observations based on limited experience with this crop)
Insects and Invertebrates: St. John’s wort beetle (Chrysolina spp.);
Diseases: Anthracnose (Colletotrichum gloeosporioides), fungal crown and root rots (e.g. Fusarium)
Other Potential Pests: The following pests have not been observed on this crop in Ontario. However, they are either significant concerns for closely related plants in Ontario, or are reported on this crop in other production areas. This is not a comprehensive list of all potential pests. Not all of these pests will necessarily survive Ontario’s climate, but could potentially survive in a protected environment (e.g. greenhouse, storage facility)
None reported. Scout crop regularly for potential pests.
Comments
Commercial production in Ontario is often not possible due to the combined effects of St. John’s wort beetle and anthracnose. In Ontario, Chrysolina beetles are sometimes less severe on heavier soils, but this is less optimal for crop growth. Click here for more information on these pests. This crop is not in a crop group. There are few to no pest control products registered on this crop in Ontario.
Research has been conducted at the University of Guelph to establish micropropagation procedures for this crop.
- McKeown, A.W., C.J. Bakker and J. Schooley. 1998-2002. Herb Demonstration Garden, University of Guelph Simcoe Research Station, unpublished.
- Murch, S.J. and P.K. Saxena 2006. A melatonin-rich germplasm line of St John's wort (Hypericum perforatum L.). J. Pineal Research 41: 284–287.
- Murch, S.J. and P.K. Saxena 2006. St. John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum L.): Challenges and strategies for production of chemically-consistent plants. Canadian Journal of Plant Science 86: 765–771.
- Westerveld, S., Elford, E., Filotas, M. and J. Todd. 2010-present. OMAFRA herb demonstration garden. OMAFRA Simcoe Resource Centre, unpublished.
- AFIF report, 2000-2001. Herb & Spice. In Specialized Crop Production "Spoke Program", Agri-Food Innovation Fund Annual Technical Report 2000-2001 (pg 36-44). Regina, Government of Saskatchewan.
- Azizi, M. and T. Omid-Beigi. 2001. Effects of different levels of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer on growth, yield and hypericin content of St. John’s wort. Iranian Journal of Agricultural Science 32: 720-725.
- Berti, M., Hevia, F., Wilkens, R., Joublan, J.P., Serri, H. and J. Allende. 2000. Nitrogen fertilization in St. John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum L.) in Chillan, Chile. Ciencia e Investigacion Agraria 27: 107-115.
- Cuthbertson, Y. 2006. Success with Herbs. Guild of Master Craftsman Publications Ltd., East Sussex UK.
- Foster, S. and J.A. Duke. 2000. Eastern/Central Medicinal Plants and Herbs. Houghton Mifflin Company, New York.
- Gardiner, A. 1995. Fifty Useful Herbs. Promotional Reprint Company Ltd., London ON.
- Government of Saskatchewan. 2009. St. John’s Wort.
- Hartung, T. 2000. Growing 101 Herbs that Heal: gardening techniques, recipes and remedies. Storey Publishing, North Adams MA.
- Kowalchik, C. and W.H. Hylton. 1998. Rodale’s Illustrated Encyclopedia of Herbs. Rodale Press, Emmaus PA
- McVicar, J. 1994. Jekka’s Complete Herb Book. Raincoast Books, Vancouver.
- Sturdivant, L. and T. Blakley . 1999. Medicinal Herbs in the Garden, Field & Marketplace. San Juan Naturals, Friday Harbor WA.
