Hypericum perforatum ST JOHN'S WORT (50 seeds)

Common St John's Wort, also known as St John's grass is a hardy perennial herbaceous plant from Europe, belonging to the Hypericaceae family. It is a fast-growing, ground-covering perennial that reaches 40 to 100 cm in height and has deciduous foliage.

The flowers are a bright yellow color and appear during the summer period until early autumn.

Its fruits are small brown capsules that open when mature and dry, releasing several hundred seeds.

St John's Wort seeds from Hypericum perforatum are very fine, brown, and shaped like small cylindrical rods. They measure only one to two millimeters in length and weigh just a few centigrams.

- Uses:

This is a medicinal, aromatic, and tinctorial (dye-producing) plant that grows easily in all types of soil. During the Middle Ages, it was used as a magical plant intended to ward off evil spirits. In medicine, it was used for its numerous therapeutic properties to reduce stress and cramps, treat menopausal disorders, and as a natural antidepressant.
Do not consume without medical advice from a healthcare professional.

The entire plant has been used to dye materials yellow or reddish-brown, though the flowers contain the highest concentration of pigment. In a classic bath, they can produce very delicate shades of orange-red. When the flowers are infused in an alcoholic bath, they release a red dye popularly known as "St John's blood." When heated and oxidized, this dye imparts a superb, stable, and very luminous spring-green shade to wool.

- Germination and Sowing:

• The best period to sow St John's grass is in May when temperatures exceed 15°C
• Sow the seeds in a tray of fine, sifted horticultural potting soil without covering them (they need light to germinate).
• Water the culture gently using a hand sprayer.
• Place the tray in a greenhouse to accelerate germination.
• Germination occurs approximately 2 to 4 weeks after sowing.
• Once germinated, prick out the St John's grass seedlings when they reach 10 to 15 cm in height.

- Soil Type / Substrate:

This "fairy herb" grows in all types of soil; however, the substrate should be well-draining and, if possible, rich in organic matter.

- Exposure / Light:

It must be grown in full sun to benefit from beautiful flowering. If the plant lacks light, it will produce significantly fewer flowers.

- Temperatures / Hardiness:

This carpeting plant is very hardy. The ideal growth temperature is between 15 and 25°C. It is frost-resistant and grows back year after year. Its USDA hardiness zone is 5b.

- Watering / Irrigation:

As a robust plant, St John's Wort does not need frequent watering. Only one watering per week is recommended for ground cultivation, and two waterings per week for container cultivation during the summer. In winter, irrigation is not necessary.

- Multiplication:

The only effective way to reproduce this plant is by sowing its seeds; stem cuttings are unfortunately not possible.

- Pests / Diseases:

St John's Wort is not particularly sensitive to diseases or pests. Its only real concern is rust (fungal disease), which can be treated with Bordeaux mixture.

- Maintenance:

At the end of the year, prune the plant back to ground level, immediately after harvesting its seeds and leaves.