Shrub of the Month-December 2010
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Kalm's St. John's Wort
(Hypericum kalmianum)
As the Arboretum transitions into winter, notice the attractive peeling bark on this endangered native of Illinois—December's Tree of the Month—Kalm's St. John's Wort. Walk south from Parking Lot 2 into the Northern Illinois Collection to see this shrub.
Kalm's St. John's Wort is rarely seen in the wild. That's unfortunate because it has year-round visual appeal. Its papery, peeling bark makes it as attractive in winter as it is in summer when clusters of yellow flowers sparkle at the tips of its stems.
Although St. John's Wort has long been used in traditional herbalism as a treatment for mild depression, evidence of its effectiveness remains mixed. The "Kalm" in this shrub's name refers not to any calming effect, but to Peter Kalm, a student of Swedish botanist Carl Linneaus, who purportedly discovered the species plant growing in North America in the mid 1700s.
Mature size: 2 to 3 feet high and wide
Rate of growth: Slow to moderate
Visit this shrub in all seasons to see its changing features!
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