Albury Purple St. Johns Wort

Hypericum x 'Albury Purple'

Nature Hills Nursery

Dramatic Purple St. John's Wort with Year-Round Color: Yellow Blooms, Deep Purple Foliage, and Glossy Red-Black Berries
Thrives in Zones 5-9
Grows 2-3 ft Tall, 1-2 ft Wide
Native, Pollinator-Friendly - Attracts Bees
Showy Yellow Blooms From Early Summer to Early Fall

$57⁹⁸

Shipping calculated at checkout.

Out of stock

Enter your ZIP code to check shipping availability.

Find your Growing Zone

Plant Size

Product variants

Planting & Care

Where to Plant

Sunlight: For the best berry production and the deepest purple foliage, plant in full sun (at least 6 hours of direct light). While it handles partial shade well, you may notice the stems stretching or the leaf color fading to a dusty green.
Soil: This plant thrives in well-drained soil that doesn't hold standing water. If you have heavy clay, mix in some organic compost or plant it in a slightly raised mound to improve drainage and prevent root rot.

Watering Requirements

During the first growing season, provide about an inch of water per week to help the root system reach deep into the soil. Once established, Albury Purple is quite drought tolerant, though a lack of water during peak summer can lead to smaller berries and scorched leaf edges. Aim for consistent moisture at the base of the plant to keep the foliage looking lush and vibrant.

Pruning Tips

Because this St. John's Wort blooms on new wood, you should prune it back hard in late winter or very early spring before new growth starts. Think of it like a "reset button" that encourages a flush of fresh, colorful stems and more flower buds. Cutting the stems back to about 6 to 12 inches from the ground prevents the plant from becoming woody and sparse at the bottom.

Fertilizer Needs

Apply a balanced, slow-release fertilizer in early spring as the first leaves begin to emerge. Avoid using high-nitrogen fertilizers late in the summer because this encourages tender new growth that can be easily damaged by the first frost. A single application of an all-purpose garden food is usually enough to fuel its distinctive purple foliage and bright yellow blooms.

Delivery and Shipping

Preorder Shipping Schedule

We ship your plants when it's safe to transport them to your zone. Dates are estimated and subject to weather delays.

Zone 3-4	Week of March 30th
Zone 5	Week of March 16th
Zone 6-12	Week of March 2nd

Shipping Rates

Ships in 7-10 business days • Tracking provided • Weather protected

Under $50	$9.99
$50 - $99.99	$14.99
$100 - $149.99	$16.99
$150 - $198.99	$24.99
$199+	FREE

✓ Zone-specific timing • ✓ Professional packaging • ✓ Health guarantee

Understanding Our Container Sizes

At Nature Hills, our plants are sold in industry-standard nursery containers. You will notice we use the word "container" rather than "gallon." Container numbers follow a nursery trade size standard, not liquid volume. The number tells you the plant's size category and general maturity level. A larger container means a more established plant with a stronger root system.

Container Sizes

Quart

Plant age: 6 months to 1 year
Best for: Ground covers, perennials, ornamental grasses
What to expect: Our smallest and most affordable size. Well-suited for planting in multiples across a large area. Allow 1 to 2 seasons for full establishment.

#1 Container

Plant age: 1 to 2 years
Best for: Shrubs, perennials, smaller trees
What to expect: About the size of a large coffee can. A well-developed root system in a manageable size. Good value choice when you have time to let the plant grow into the space over a season or two.

#2 Container

Plant age: 2 to 3 years
Best for: Shrubs and trees where you want faster establishment
What to expect: A noticeable step up from a #1 in both plant size and root development. Good choice when you want visible presence without going to a larger size.

#3 Container

Plant age: 3 to 4 years
Best for: Most plants, most situations — flowering trees, shade trees, evergreen shrubs
What to expect: Our most popular size. Strong, developed root system. Plants in a #3 container make an immediate visual impact from day one. If you want a head start rather than waiting seasons for a plant to fill in, this is typically the right choice.

#5 Container and Larger

Plant age: 4 to 5+ years
Best for: Specimen plants, privacy screens, maximum instant impact
What to expect: Large, mature plants ready to make an immediate statement in your landscape. We also carry #7 and larger sizes for select varieties.

Why "Container" and Not "Gallon"?

Nursery container sizes follow an industry trade standard established for the nursery and horticulture industry. The number is a size designation, not a measurement of liquid volume. Actual soil volume varies by plant type, root mass, and growing medium. Using "container" is the accurate industry term. When you see #1, #2, or #3, think of it as the plant's size tier, not a gallon measurement.

Root Pouch Containers

Some Nature Hills plants arrive in a Root Pouch, a breathable fabric container made from 100% recycled materials. Root Pouches encourage denser root development through air pruning, which discourages root circling and promotes a stronger, more fibrous root ball at the time of planting.

Plants growing in Root Pouch fabric containers, showing the breathable woven fabric construction

There are two types. Knowing which one you have changes how you plant:

Degradable (brown or tan fabric): Plant the entire pouch directly in the ground. The fabric breaks down naturally in the soil over time.
Non-degradable (black or gray fabric): Remove the pouch before planting. Cut the bottom open with scissors, then peel the sides away. The fibrous root ball will hold its shape.

Not sure which type you have? Check the tag on your plant or contact us and we will confirm.

Full Root Pouch planting guide

Choosing the Right Size

Size	Plant Age	Best For
Quart	6 mo to 1 yr	Ground covers, perennials, grasses. Budget-friendly for mass plantings.
#1 Container	1 to 2 yrs	Shrubs, perennials, small trees. Value choice for patient gardeners.
#2 Container	2 to 3 yrs	Shrubs and trees where you want faster establishment.
#3 Container	3 to 4 yrs	Most plants. Immediate visual impact. Our most popular size.
#5 and larger	4+ yrs	Specimen plants, privacy screens, maximum instant impact.

Still not sure which size is right for your project? Our plant specialists are happy to help. Contact us and we will point you in the right direction.

Add a designer's touch to your garden!

Bright yellow blooms with golden sparks shooting from the centers, plus brooding, reddish-purple foliage and red to black-berries! That's what Albury Purple St. John's Wort (Hypericum androsaemum 'Albury Purple') brings to your landscape!

Smothered in gleaming blooms that burst onto the scene in mid-summer, these flowers long after many shrubs have lapsed from the heat! Also known as Hypericum, these shrubby and tightly-branched shrubs feature purplish-red blushed, green leaves and stems.

The real stars of the show are the seed pods that appear in late summer and provide winter interest. Reddish-purple and glossy, they are incredible for floral design or winter interest. Turning near black when mature!

Don't let the cheery flowers and unique foliage fool you, this plant is a tough native, able to form handsome colonies! In warmer growing zones, Albery may be semi or fully evergreen! The dense and mounded deciduous shrubs feature fall color and exfoliating bark throughout autumn and winter.

Planting and Application:

Loving full sun gardens, Albury Purple brings a unique brooding color to a formal planting bed as well as informal plantings, sunny country borders, mixed-shrub borders, and informal hedges. An excellent choice for low screens and privacy! If you have a wooded edge or want that feel to your landscape, Albury Purple bridges the transition between the yard and the woods, taming the wildness and filling an area with color!

The spreading, suckering nature of these plants makes them perfect for erosion control, filling hard-to-mow steep slopes with vibrant color, and en masse where they can really shine. But they are easily kept as tidy accents and won't jump their borders when monitored.

Your cutting garden is a natural place for these intriguing plants, and every florist will be familiar with the botanical name 'Hypericum'. If you don't snip all the seedpods, these lovely 'hips' add incredible winter interest! The unique seed pods are glossy reddish-purple and turn black, making for eccentric additions to your floral bouquets! Or, leave them to their own devices in the landscape for wonderful winter interest!

Don't worry about those out-of-the-way areas attracting deer - those uninvited guests will usually leave this plant alone! But butterflies, bees, and native pollinators rush to sip nectar and feast on pollen from these radiant buttercup-like blooms!

Sunshine Yellow Starry Flowers
Reddish-Purple & Deep-Green Foliage
Green Fruits Turn Red & Mature Black & Winter Interest
Eclectic Bouquet Addition & Beneficial to Early Pollinators
Mid-Sized Dense Shrub
Spreading & Naturalizing, Borders & Backdrops, Erosion & Accents

#ProPlantTips for Care:

Loving the full sun, Hypericum doesn't have much preference for soil type, though they prefer rich, sandy loams. Just be sure to provide well-drained soils since Hypericum cannot tolerate wet feet! Apply a generous 3-4 inch thick layer of mulch to retain moisture and insulate the root system from heat and winter's chill. Prune while dormant to control the size and shape. Drought and rust-resistant, these easy-growing plants are low-maintenance.

This hardy cultivar of the American native is super easy-care! White Hypericum thrives in warm climates without any care at all. In colder growing zones, these act as deciduous shrubs, and may even die back to the ground during harsh winter months. Though it will come back strong and true each spring.

Full Sun
Vigorous Growing Deciduous Flowering Shrub
Needs Well-Drained Soil & Moderate Moisture Needs
Deer Resistant & Drought Tolerance!
Super Low Maintenance
Prune When Dormant

Highly adaptable and easy to grow, plus all the features that make for an outstanding flowering shrub, Hypericum practically takes care of itself! Buy your Albury Purple St. John's Wort from Nature Hills today and work smarter, not harder!

Botanical Name

Hypericum x 'Albury Purple'
Class

Malpighiales
Species

x
Cultivar

Albury Purple
Growing Zones

5-9
Height

2-3 ft
Width

1-2 ft
Sunlight

Full sun
Growth Rate

Moderate
Flower Color

Yellow
Leaf Color

Purple, Bronze
Native

Yes
Bloom Period

Early Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall
Does Not Ship To

AK, HI, ID, MT, OR, PR

Free shipping

On all orders over $199
Plant Sentry™

Compliant guaranteed
Easy returns

Hassle free returns policy
Live Chat

Talk to a real person

Growing Zones 5-9

Find Your Growing Zone!

Frequently Asked Questions

What USDA hardiness zones is Albury Purple St. John's Wort suitable for?

Albury Purple St. John's Wort thrives in USDA zones 6-9. In warmer zones, it remains semi-evergreen to fully evergreen through winter. Plant in full sun for best flowering and foliage color.

How tall and wide does Albury Purple St. John's Wort get at maturity?

Albury Purple St. John's Wort forms dense, mounded shrubs typically reaching 3-4 feet tall and wide at maturity. These spreading plants can form colonies through suckering, making them excellent for filling slopes or creating natural hedges. Monitor regularly to keep them contained as tidy accents, available at naturehills.com.

Is Albury Purple St. John's Wort evergreen, semi-evergreen, or deciduous in my area?

Albury Purple St. John's Wort is deciduous in most areas but becomes semi-evergreen to fully evergreen in warmer growing zones. The plant displays beautiful fall color and interesting exfoliating bark through winter even when it drops its leaves. Check your local zone to determine what to expect in your specific climate.

What type of soil does Albury Purple St. John's Wort prefer, and does it need acidic soil?

Albury Purple St. John's Wort is quite adaptable to various soil types and doesn't require acidic conditions. This tough native thrives in average, well-draining soil. For best results, ensure good drainage and avoid waterlogged areas.

How much sun or shade can Albury Purple St. John's Wort tolerate?

Albury Purple St. John's Wort thrives in full sun conditions. While it prefers bright, sunny locations for optimal flowering and foliage color, it can tolerate some light shade. For best bloom production and that distinctive purplish-red foliage, plant in full sun. Shop at Nature Hills for healthy specimens.

How do I care for Albury Purple St. John's Wort, including watering and fertilizing?

Albury Purple St. John's Wort is remarkably low-maintenance once established, thriving in full sun with minimal care. Water regularly the first year, then only during extended dry periods. Light fertilizing in early spring promotes better blooms and foliage color.

What are the shipping options and costs for Albury Purple St. John's Wort plants?

Shipping options and costs vary by plant size and your location. Most Albury Purple St. John's Wort plants ship via ground transportation during optimal planting seasons. Check the product page for current rates and delivery timeframes to your zip code.