Flower profile

Roundpod St. john's-wort

Hypericum cistifolium

Roundpod St. john's-wort (Hypericum cistifolium) is a shrub in the Hypericaceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly June–August across the U.S.

Native to Florida

Roundpod St. john's-wort is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. In Florida it's most often seen in bloom in May–July.

8states where USDA records it

3,101FL sightings*

3,433U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: Florida

Quick look

Hypericum cistifolium is a shrub in the family Hypericaceae native in the southeastern United States. Plants in the genus Hypericum are referred to as St. John's wort.
From Wikipedia's article Hypericum cistifolium, CC BY-SA 4.0.

It belongs to the Hypericaceae family. ^iNaturalist
USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) / a shrub with a perennial life cycle. ^{USDA PLANTS}
USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 8 states. ^{USDA PLANTS}
NatureServe lists it as native to Florida. ^NatureServe
In Florida, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in May–July. ^iNaturalist
USDA PLANTS lists its flower color as yellow. ^{USDA PLANTS}
USDA PLANTS gives its bloom period as early summer. ^{USDA PLANTS}
USDA PLANTS lists a mature height of about 2.5 ft. ^{USDA PLANTS}
iNaturalist has 3,101 research-grade sightings of it in Florida, ranking #100 among the 151 flowers on our Florida list. ^iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

In Florida, most flowering sightings come in May–July.

Flowering records by month in Florida (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (202 records)

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA): Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. ^{USFWS ECOS}
NatureServe global: G5 Secure worldwide. ^NatureServe
Florida: Not listed Not on Florida Regulated Plant Index (Fla. Admin. Code 5B-40.0055). NatureServe: S5, secure in Florida. ^{FAC 5B-40.0055}
Rare elsewhere: No other U.S. state ranks it S1, S2, SH or SX.

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Can you eat it?

For peopleNot well documented

None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no page for this plant), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people.

For petsNot well documented

It isn't on the ASPCA plant list. For context only: ASPCA lists a related species, Hypericum perforatum (“Klamath Weed”), as toxic to dogs and cats. That doesn't tell us about this species, so keep pets away to be safe. ^ASPCA

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records roundpod St. john's-wort in 8 states.

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recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas.

Florida counties with USDA records: Alachua, Baker, Bay, Bradford, Brevard, Broward, Calhoun, Charlotte, Citrus, Clay, Collier, Columbia, DeSoto, Dixie, Duval, Escambia, Flagler, Franklin, Gilchrist, Glades, Hamilton, Hardee, Hendry, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Holmes, Indian River, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lake, Lee, Leon, Levy, Liberty, Madison, Manatee, Marion, Martin, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Nassau, Okaloosa, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Santa Rosa, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Johns, St. Lucie, Sumter, Taylor, Union, Volusia, Wakulla, Walton, Washington.

Growing conditions

USDA PLANTS gives Roundpod St. john's-wort a high shade tolerance, medium drought tolerance and medium moisture use. It is rated for soil pH 4.6 to 7.0 and winter lows down to -33 °F.

Shade tolerance: High
Drought tolerance: Medium
Moisture use: Medium
Soil textures it is adapted to: coarse, medium
Soil pH range: 4.6 to 7.0
Minimum temperature tolerated: -33 °F
Frost-free days needed (minimum): 160
Annual precipitation range: 32 to 55 inches
Minimum root depth: 9 inches
Salinity tolerance: None
Fertility requirement: Low
Growth rate: Moderate
Lifespan: Moderate
Active growth period: Summer
Fruit or seed: Brown · Summer to Summer
Can be propagated by: bare root, container
Commercial availability: No Known Source

From the USDA PLANTS characteristics data for HYCI. USDA ratings are general guidance for the species, not a guarantee for your garden.

Names, range and relatives

Other scientific names (synonyms in USDA PLANTS): Hypericum opacum.

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 140 counties across 8 states; the most are in Florida (63), Georgia (25), North Carolina (18).

Other Hypericum on Bloomipedia (4): Common St. John's wort, St. Andrew's cross, Fourpetal St. johnswort, Golden St. John's wort.

More Florida flowers

Fourpetal St. johnswort

Hypericum tetrapetalum

Native

🌼 Blooms in FL: March–October

White beggarticks

Bidens alba

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🌼 Blooms in FL: January–March

American beautyberry

Callicarpa americana

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🌼 Blooms in FL: May–July

Sources

USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile HYCI.
iNaturalist, Hypericum cistifolium: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
Wikipedia, Hypericum cistifolium (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
Florida: Florida Regulated Plant Index (Fla. Admin. Code 5B-40.0055).
Florida: Florida Noxious Weed List (Fla. Admin. Code 5B-57.007).
USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
NatureServe Explorer, Hypericum cistifolium (global and state ranks).
Edibility and toxicity: ASPCA.
Photo: Valerie Anderson via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized.