St John's wort

St John's wort is a native, fully hardy perennial. Leave the dead shoots standing over winter, as they protect the root and offer insects shelter. In early spring, cut the old stems back close to the ground; just make sure the soil drains well, as waterlogging in winter is the only real danger.

Sowing (main method): St John's wort needs light and cold to germinate: never cover the seeds with soil, just press them in lightly. The simplest way is to sow directly outdoors: in late October (autumn sowing), when frost and weather over the winter supply the necessary cold stimulus and the seeds germinate by themselves in spring. If you want to start them indoors in spring (February/March), first give the seeds the cold stimulus (keep them cool and moist for several weeks) before placing the pots in a bright spot at around 20 °C; germination then takes about 2 to 3 weeks. If you leave the plants standing outdoors from autumn, natural self-seeding often gives plenty of offspring.

Cuttings: From May to September, take herbaceous to semi-hardwood shoot tips 8 to 10 cm long just above a leaf axil, preferably from non-flowering shoots, which root more readily. Remove the lower leaves, insert the cutting in moist, lean compost (e.g. a sand and soil mix) and place it in a bright spot, but not in strong sun. Rooting succeeds in 3 to 6 weeks. Alternatively, hardwood cuttings in October/November are also suitable.

Division: The simplest method for established clumps. In early spring, when the first shoots appear, dig up the clump, divide it with a sharp spade into several segments (each piece should have enough roots and 2 to 3 shoots) and replant straight away. Also possible in autumn after cutting back. Division rejuvenates older plants at the same time.