Practical
Plants

Hypericum bellum

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Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
evergreen
Woodiness
woody
Height
1 m
Spread
1.5 m
Fertility
self fertile
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Insects, Self

Uses

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

Febrifuge, vermifuge. Also used in the treatment of hepatitis, colds, dysentery and dermatitis[5].

Product or use
Febrifuge
Product or use
Miscellany
Product or use
Vermifuge

Material uses

A good ground cover[1].

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Soil surface

Ground cover

Environment

Range
E. Asia - China to the Himalayas.
Habitat
Scrub on open hillsides[2]. Forest glades[5]. Open forest, forest edges, thickets and grassy slopes at elevains of 1900 - 3200 metres in the western Himalayas[4].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 6+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline, very alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

Seed - sow spring in a greenhouse and only just cover the seed. Germination usually takes place within 1 - 3 months at 10°c. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Cuttings of half-ripe wood 10 - 12 cm with a heel, July/August in a frame. Plant out in the following spring[3] Careful division of old suckering shrubs in the dormant season.

Cultivation

Easily grown in any reasonably good well-drained but moisture retentive soil[1]. Succeeds in sun or semi-shade but flowers better in a sunny position[3]. Tolerates chalk. A very ornamental plant[1], it is hardy to about -10°c[2]. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[3].

References

  1. Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

  2. Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Shrubs. Pan Books 1989-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30258-2

    ↩1↩2

  3. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3

  4. Flora of China 1994-00-00 http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/

    ↩

  5. Zhang Jingwei. Alpine Plants of China. Gordon & Breach. New York. 1982-00-00 ISBN 0-677-60190-5

    ↩1↩2

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