Description of Hypericum elodes (Marsh St John's-wort)

Hypericum elodes is marsh St John's-wort, a UK native for wet ground. It is a good plant for softening margins because it creeps, flowers, and sits low enough to thread between taller plants.

Appearance

It has fuzzy, grey-green leaves on creeping stems. Yellow flowers appear in summer, often for a long run. It usually stays 20 to 40cm tall but can spread into a wider patch in wet soil.

Care Guide

It likes constant moisture and open light. In deep shade it becomes thin and sparse.

• Sun: Sun to part shade.
• Soil: Wet soil, mud, or aquatic compost.
• Water: Boggy ground or very shallow margins.
• Control: Trim edges if it creeps too far.
• Tidy up: Cut back old stems in late winter for fresh spring growth.

It’s a good plant for more natural planting. It looks better when it can mingle rather than sit as a single isolated clump.

Suitability for Bog Garden

This suits bog gardens as a mid-front filler, especially around the edge of shallow water or saturated compost. It also works well around stones, where it can drape and soften lines.

Because it stays low, it helps link planting without blocking views.

FAQ