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Great Saint John's Wort

Hypericum ascyron
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Hypericum ascyron (Great Saint John's Wort) — botanical photograph
Pl. F9A5 — Hypericum ascyron
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I

Overview

Great Saint John's Wort (Hypericum ascyron), a perennial plant from the family Hypericaceae, is native to a wide range of regions including Altay, Amur, Buryatiya, and various areas in China and Russia, as well as parts of North America such as Connecticut and Illinois. This plant thrives in full sun to partial shade and prefers moist soil that can be light (sandy), medium, or heavy (clay). Hardy in zones 3-7, it grows up to 1.5 meters tall and is known for its edible leaves and shoots, making it a valuable addition to gardens and landscapes. Its native range extends into parts of North America, where it can be found growing wild or cultivated for its culinary uses. Great Saint John's Wort is also recognized for its traditional use in calming and emotional well-being, often appearing in herbal sources as a tincture. However, PlantSage presents this information as ethnobotanical context, not as medical advice.

Quick answers

What is Great Saint John's Wort?

Great Saint John's Wort (Hypericum ascyron), a perennial plant from the family Hypericaceae, is native to a wide range of regions including Altay, Amur, Buryatiya, and various areas in China and Russia, as well as parts of North America such as Connecticut and Illinois.

What is Great Saint John's Wort used for?

Traditionally used for stress & anxiety, mood support. Each claim is evidence-rated — see Section II for full citations.

Best for
Top 2 evidence-ranked uses of Great Saint John's Wort
Jump to full evidence →
Clinicaluses · safety · chemistry · dosagemedicinal profile
II

Benefits & evidence

2 claims · traditional-use context
Traditional-use context
These notes are presented as ethnobotanical context. No cited clinical references are catalogued for this plant yet.
  • Traditional-use note: Great Saint John's Wort appears in herbal sources around calming and relaxation traditions, often as a tincture. PlantSage presents this as ethnobotanical context, not as medical advice.

    Traditional context only. This reviewed claim keeps the original moderate confidence level, but avoids treatment, disease, dosage, or guaranteed-effect language.

  • Traditional-use note: Great Saint John's Wort appears in herbal sources around emotional well-being traditions, often as a tincture. PlantSage presents this as ethnobotanical context, not as medical advice.

    Traditional context only. This reviewed claim keeps the original moderate confidence level, but avoids treatment, disease, dosage, or guaranteed-effect language.

    ▲ ModerateMood support →
IV·b

Mixology suggestions

1 draft
Editorial drafts. These pairings are AI-suggested from traditional herbal lore. Always verify with a qualified herbalist before brewing.
Great Saint John's Wort support blend
general
tea
AI returned a direct ingredient list; normalized into one draft blend for editorial review.
Growingconditions · propagation · uses
V

Cultivation

Great Saint John's Wort thrives in full to partial sun and prefers moist, well-drained soil that is light (sandy), medium, or heavy (clay). It is hardy in zones 3-7 and can grow up to 1.5 meters tall. This perennial is native to a wide range of regions, including parts of Asia, North America, and Europe. For cultivation, collect leaves and shoots for use. Traditionally, this plant is used for stress and anxiety relief and emotional well-being, often prepared as a tincture.
Light
Full sun, Partial sun/shade
Water
Moist
Soil
Light (sandy), Medium, Heavy (clay)
Hardiness
3-7
Life cycle
Perennial
Mature size
1.5 m tall
For first-time growers

How to grow Great Saint John's Wort for the first time

8steps

Great Saint John's Wort is a hardy perennial that thrives in full to partial sun and moist soil, making it an excellent choice for beginners.

  1. 1

    What you'll need

    Seeds or young plants, a garden fork, compost, and mulch.

  2. 2

    Best time to plant

    Plant in spring after the last frost or in fall before the first freeze.

  3. 3

    Soil and container prep

    Ensure soil is well-draining but moisture-retentive. Amend with compost if necessary.

  4. 4

    Sowing or transplanting

    Direct sow seeds in early spring, covering them lightly. Alternatively, plant young plants directly into the garden.

  5. 5

    First two weeks

    Keep soil consistently moist and mulch around the base to retain moisture and suppress weeds.

  6. 6

    Ongoing care

    Water regularly during dry spells but avoid overwatering. Mulch annually to maintain soil moisture and fertility.

  7. 7

    Harvest or pruning

    Prune in late winter before new growth begins to encourage a bushy shape.

  8. 8

    Common mistakes

    Overwatering, planting too deep, neglecting mulching, and not providing enough sunlight.

VI

Edible & utility

Edible parts:LeavesShoots
Edible uses: Tea
Contextrange · companions · related
VII

Distribution

47 native · 1 introduced
Distribution across2 continents· 47 native· 1 introduced
Europe1 region
native (1)Russia
Asia7 regions
native (7)ChinaJapanKazakhstanMongoliaSouth KoreaTaiwanVietnam
Broader regions
native:Altay, Amur, Buryatiya, Chita, Connecticut, Hainan, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Irkutsk, Kamchatka, Kansas, Khabarovsk, Krasnoyarsk, Kuril Is., Maine, Masachusettes, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Ontario, Pennsylvania, Primorye, Québec, Sakhalin, Tuva, Vermont, Wisconsin, Yakutskiya
introduced:Maryland
IX

Specimen gallery

1 image
Hypericum ascyron (Great Saint John's Wort) — botanical photograph
Great Saint John's Wort (Hypericum ascyron)
X

See also

8 related
XI

Explore further

Growing zone
XII

About this entry

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