St. Johnswort ‘Albury Purple’

Mass planting of 'Albury Purple,' showing purple-tinged leaves and yellow flowers.

* Common name: St. Johnswort ‘Albury Purple’

* Botanical name: Hypericum androsaemum ‘Albury Purple’

* What it is: A compact shrub with a somewhat arching growth habit, yellow summer flowers and red fruits that ripen to black from late summer to fall. Leaves are tinged with burgundy.

* Size: Grows 2 to 3 feet tall and about 3 feet wide.

* Where to use: Takes sun or part shade and can be used in a flower border or massed as a knee-high groundcover. Does fairly well in moderate dry shade under tree canopies.

* Care: Woody stems die off most winters and so old growth usually must be cut to the ground in early spring. New growth sprouts from the roots, usually by the end of April. Spraying, fertilizing and in-season pruning usually not needed, although Japanese beetles may do some fair damage some years. Main down side is that unusually cold winters or extremely hot, dry summers may shorten its lifespan.

* Great partner: Try surrounding ‘Albury Purple’ with perennials such as golden thread-leaf coreopsis (‘Golden Gain’ and ‘Zagreb’ are two good ones) or front it with golden-variegated liriope.

Closeup of 'Albury Purple's' red fruits and purple-tinged leaves.