St. John's Wort 'BLUE VELVET™'

St. John's Wort 'BLUE VELVET™'

Scott's Nursery Ltd.

$34.99
Title

Introduce a sophisticated "cool factor" to your garden with this award-winning ornamental shrub. Blue Velvet™ is defined by its exceptionally dense, tidy dome of shimmering silvery-blue foliage that provides a rare and elegant colour texture. In mid-summer, this metallic backdrop is electrified by a profusion of brilliant, sun-yellow flowers featuring dramatic, "fibre-optic" bursts of central stamens. It is a compact, high-impact specimen that brings a modern, luminous look to sun-drenched borders.
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Plant Details

Mature Size:

3' H x 4' W

Zone:

4-8

Watering:

Low to Medium

Foliage Type:

Deciduous

Growth Rate:

Moderate - Fast

Light:

Full Sun/Partial Shade

Plant Profile

Common Names:

Blue Velvet St. John’s Wort, Blue Velvet Hypericum

Scientific Name:

Hypericum x 'Cfflpc-1' (also referred to as Hypericum kalmianum 'Cfflpc-1')

Type:

Ornamental Shrub

Growth Details:

  • Mature Size: Typically grows 2–3 feet tall and 3–4 feet wide.
  • Growth Habit: Upright, spreading, and multi-stemmed.
  • Form: Tidy, symmetrical dome.
  • Growth Rate: Medium to fast.
  • Longevity: Approximately 15–20 years with proper care.

Environmental Needs:

  • Exposure: Full sun to partial shade.
  • Soil Preferences: Thrives in well-drained loamy or sandy soils enriched with organic matter.
  • Soil Tolerance: Highly adaptable to various soil types including clay and poor soils; handles a wide pH range (6.0–7.5).
  • Watering: Requires regular deep watering for the first season to establish roots; very drought-tolerant thereafter.

Special Features:

Highly disease and rust resistant; deer and rabbit resistant; attracts a wide variety of pollinators; drought and clay tolerant.

Ornamental & Landscape Value

Seasonal Interest:

  • Bloom: Masses of showy, 2–3 inch bright yellow flowers from late spring to mid-summer.
  • Fall Colour: Foliage can sometimes offer muted orange-red tints late in the season.
  • Bark/Fruit: Features greyish bark and produces small, attractive red berries from late summer into autumn.

Garden Value:

A versatile "thriller" for mixed borders, rock gardens, and mass plantings. Its compact size makes it perfect for low hedges, foundation plantings, or as a stand-alone accent in urban landscapes where space is limited.

Wildlife & Human Value:

  • Wildlife Value: A premier plant for attracting bees and other pollinators; berries provide food for songbirds.
  • Human Value: Provides intense visual interest with minimal effort; flowers are suitable for cutting and floral arrangements.

Planting & Care Guide

Planting Considerations:

  • Best Time To Plant: Spring or autumn.
  • Spacing: Plant 3–4 feet apart to allow for its spreading habit.
  • Location Tips: Ensure excellent drainage as it cannot tolerate "wet feet" or standing water.

Care:

  • Light Requirements: Best in full sun for maximum bloom and best foliage color; will tolerate partial shade but may become less dense.
  • Moisture Requirements: Prefers average, medium moisture; excellent drought tolerance once established.
  • Maintenance: Low maintenance. Prune lightly in late winter or early spring to shape and remove any winter dieback.
  • Fertilization: Apply a balanced, slow-release granular fertilizer every spring.

Tolerances:

Tolerates drought, salt, urban pollution, and poor soil conditions.

Tips For Success:

Mulch the root zone in winter, especially in colder microclimates, to protect from extreme frost. Avoid over-fertilizing with nitrogen to ensure the plant focuses on flower production rather than excessive green growth.