Hypericum crux-andreae or St. Peterswort is technically considered a shrub, even though it is small and has a woody stem and a beautiful butter-yellow flower.
This evergreen shrub is in the Clusiaceae or Mangosteen family and is native to Eastern North America. It can be found in New York and New Jersey and extends as far south as northern Georgia and west to central Texas. It is not found in Connecticut. It flourished in wet flatlands and open sandy areas, stream banks, wet prairies, ponds, woodlands, and bogs. It is a small slender shrub that grows up to three feet tall. It has pale green oblong leaves, similar to myrtle leaf, and bright yellow flowers with four petals that grow in an X pattern with five stamens. It has two outer and two inner sepals. The flowers bloom from June to October and are similar to St. Andrew's cross. Old bark sheds off this shrub and the seeds are oblong capsules.
Medicinal Uses
The most commonly documented traditional use of this shrub is to make a decoction of the roots and use it as an analgesic and to treat colic. It was also used to treat skin conditions and digestive issues. Specifically, the Choctae made a decoction of the leaves and used it as a wash for sore eyes.
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| photo Eric Hunt |
Bees and small butterflies are attracted to the flowers of this shrub.
It is listed as threatened in Kentucky.
Another common name for this plant is Atlantic St. Peter's -wort.
Some people grow this shrub and trim it to make it an attractive low hedge that flowers.
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