Hypericum kouytchense, the large-flowered St John’s wort, is a species of flowering plant in the family Hypericaceae, native to Western China. Growing up to 3 ft (0.91 m) tall and 5 ft (1.5 m) wide, it is a semi-evergreen rounded shrub with blue-green leaves and large yellow flowers with prominent stamens, appearing in midsummer.[3] Flowers are followed by red seed capsules in autumn. Where conditions are favourable it can retain its leaves all year.

Hypericum kouytchense
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Rosids
Order:	Malpighiales
Family:	Hypericaceae
Genus:	Hypericum
Section:	H. sect. Ascyreia
Species:	H. kouytchense
Binomial name
Hypericum kouytchense H.Lév.[1][2]

The Latin specific epithet kouytchense is a westernisation of Guizhou,[3] a southwestern province of China identified as a hotspot for biodiversity.

This plant, which is hardy down to −15 °C (5 °F), is cultivated in temperate regions. In the UK it has gained the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit.[4][5] It has been reported as invasive in Hawaii.[6]

References