Hypericum inodorum Magical Beauty Kolmbeau - St. John's wort

Like all the shrubby St. John's wort from the Magical series, Hypericum x inodorum Magical Pumpkin 'Kolmapuki' has a naturally compact habit. Its beautiful foliage persists in winter and resists rust well. It is covered with small golden-yellow cup-shaped flowers for almost four months, followed by beautiful clusters of two-tone salmon-coloured fruits, which turn black when ripe. The flowers and fruits mix on the plant throughout the summer, and the fruits often persist until the beginning of winter, helping to make this bush attractive for many months. A true all-terrain plant, St. John's wort settles in the sun or in semi-shade in flower beds, rockeries, borders, or even in a pot on a terrace.

Magical Pumpkin is part of a new generation of hybrids developed in Holland, resistant to the rust disease that affects many shrubby hypericums in humid climates, particularly those derived from Hypericum inodorum, native to the Island of Madeira. The Magical® hypericums produce berries of varied colours depending on the variety, ranging from white to green, yellow, pink, orange, red, and almost black. These compact little bushes flower generously and regularly from their first year in the garden and bear fruit generously. All these plants belong to the Hypericaceae family.

With rapid growth, Magical Pumpkin will generally not exceed 90cm (35in) in height and 70cm (28in) in width. It has a bushy and dense habit, with ramified vegetation. Its leaves are ovate and tough, without petioles. They are a rather dark green, slightly glaucous underneath. If the winter is not too harsh, they persist on the branches. It flowers practically four months of the year, from June-July to September-October. The flowers are produced abundantly in clusters of 3 to 23 very small flowers, 1.5 to 3cm (1in) in diameter. They are made up of 5 rounded, golden yellow petals, arranged in an open cup. The centre of the flower is occupied by a crown of protruding, quite long stamens. This flowering is followed by the formation of beautiful clusters of conical fruits of salmon-orange colour, becoming black when ripe, and measuring 8 to 13mm (0.3 to 0.5in) in diameter.

St. John's wort is appreciated for its long flowering period and ease of cultivation in all soils and under all our climates, even by the sea and even in the shade. Easy to grow in ordinary but well-drained soil, it is a star plant for the terrace and the ideal small bush to install in a romantic setting, even for gardening novices. It can be planted, for example, with purple foliage (physocarpus, berberis, bronze fennel) in a fashionable setting, or play on the perfect harmony between the yellow of its flowers and the blue of dwarf perovskia, caryopteris, nepeta, or perennial geraniums. Surround your flower beds with euphorbias and Lady's Mantle, with very flattering foliage. Its yellow flowering will not compete with more pastel spring flowering. Its fruit-laden branches can be used to create interesting bouquets.