The bright chartreuse (almost golden) foliage Brigadoon St. John’s wort (Hypericum calycinum ‘Brigadoon’) can brighten up almost any dull garden spot. This Euro-Asian ground cover thrives in any well-drained soil under full to partial sunlight (USDA zones 4-7). Full sun may burn the summer foliage in zone 7.

‘Brigadoon’ grows 12 to 16 inches tall and spreads quickly to about two feet in width. Space plants 16-18 inches apart. In the sun, the small oval-shaped leaves turn a dazzling orange-gold.  It blooms heaviest in full sun. 

The bright gold two inch wide flowers form in June and July with clusters of pincushion-like stamens in the center. Often, the flowers do not visually stand out because of the golden foliage.

Brigadoon is easy to grow and maintain. Foliage often remains evergreen in the Southern Appalachian region (USDA hardiness zones 6 and 7), but dies back when left exposed to extreme cold in snowless winters. As a ground cover, it is best sheared back with a sharp lawn mower set at 5-6 inches high to encourage vigorous re-growth in early spring.

Use Brigadoon to edge the front border of a foundation, around tall trees and shrubs, or in a rock gardens St. John’s wort is an excellent vigorous groundcover, but be warned that its underground stoloniferous rootsystem may grow aggressively. Its rapid growth and deep rootsystem will stabilize steep embankments.

Brigadoon is bothered by few insect or disease problems. St. John’s Wort (Hypericum) has been utilized since medieval times in the treatment of wounds and to ward off evil spirits.