St John's Wort - Hypericum perforatum
150 Seeds.
Sow Spring or Autumn, seeds can take up to four weeks to germinate.
Hardy perennial.
Height 30-90cm (1-3ft), spread 30cm (1ft).
Tolerates any soil but can be invasive in light soils; prefers a sunny position or light shade.
When growing St. John’s Wort from seed, the best time to start germination is 6 to 8 weeks before the last frost. You can either start germination indoors, or you can directly sow your seeds in your garden.
Just place a few seeds in each spot about 1 cm (½”) deep. The soil needs to have to be at a fairly warm temperature of 70 F, and keep them away from bright light in order for them to germinate. Germination will take approximately 10 – 20 days. Keep the soil moist during germination, by misting them with water in a spray bottle daily.
The small leaves are stalk less, covered with tiny perforations, which are in fact translucent glands. The scented yellow flowers with black dots appear in summer.
St John's Wort
Also known as Warriors Wound, Amber, Touch & Heal, Grace of God and Herb of St John.
From the family Hypericaceae.
This magical herb is native to Europe and naturalized in Asia, Africa, North America, South America and Australia. It has interested herbalists sine the 1st century. Greek physicians Galen and Dioscorides recommended it as a diuretic, wound healing herb and treatment for menstrual disorder. During the Middle Ages, even mystical properties were attributed to it and was thought to be best if harvested on St John's Day (June 24th). Whoever treads on St John's Wort after sunset will be swept up on the back of a magic horse that will charge around the heavens until sunrise before depositing its exhausted rider on the ground. In England it cured mania, in Russia it gave protection against hydrophobia and the Brazilians knew it as an antidote to snake bites. It has been used to raise ghosts and exorcise spirits. It was worn in amulets against witchcraft, thrown on hearths, tied to cribs and buried underneath cattle stall doorways and thresholds of witches' houses. Women carried the plant during wartime, in the hope that it would prevent their violation. And at the same time, soldiers smeared the sap on their rifle barrels to ensure unerring aim and accuracy. Medieval knights were allowed into tournaments only after swearing that they carried no St John's Wort, as this would give them an unfair advantage. When crushed, the leaves release a balsamic odour similar to incense, which was said to be strong enough to drive away evil spirits. It was hung in windows and doorways to avert thunderstorms, demons and the spirits of the dead.