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Hypericum
Picture Source:California Cut Flower Commission
Popular Name:
Hypericum
Botanical Name and Pronunciation:
Hypericum androsaemum (hi-PAIR-I-cum an-dro-SAY-mum)
Common Name(s):
Coffee Been Berry, Coffee Bean, Coffee Berry, St. John’s Wort
Color(s):
red, brown, black, green, pink
Form and Size:
The leafy stems of hypericum are 24 – 36 inches long. At the stem ends, there are clusters of shiny and brightly colored berries.
Vase Life:
7 – 14 days, sometimes longer
Availability:
late-summer – autumn
Care Instructions:
Remove foliage from the bottom of the stem, cut under water and place in fresh water with flower food.
History and Usage:
A member of the Guttiferae family, hypericum originated in Europe and Western Asia. Its botanical and popular name, hypericum, comes from the word “hyper” which is Greek for above and “eikon” which is Greek for a picture. This is in reference to the old practice of hanging hypericum branches above a picture to fight off evil spirits. Hypericum could also have been named after Hyperion, the Greek Titan who was the father of Helios, the sun god. This is simply one instance of hypericum being associated with the sun, another being on the eve of a pre-Christian Europe festival, Midsummer’s Eve, in which hypericum was burned to honor the sun and maintain the good will of benevolent spirits. One of its common names, St. John’s Wort, is the name for the roots of certain plants or flowers that are said to contain healing powers. St. John’s Wort is used today to help people with depression, though in the past it was used to heal bleeding wounds and sore throats. In arrangements, hypericum makes a beautiful filler flower.
Points of Interest:
There are no common relatives associated with hypericum. Hypericum was named St. John’s Wort in honor of St. John the Baptist. The feast of St. John was near Midsummer’s Eve, and was eventually combined with the festival and set on June 24th. The superstition associated with St. John’s Wort, or hypericum, continued. It was said that if one picked St. John’s Wort on St. John’s Eve they could see where witches were holding their midsummer celebrations.
