Hypericum canariense
Canary Island st. johnswort
(c) Vítor Jorge, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Vítor Jorge · licence
Family: Hypericaceae · Type: Shrub / Tree · Not Native
Conservation status: Cal-IPC Yes
Hypericum canariense (Canary Island st. johnswort) is a non-native California shrub / tree in the Hypericaceae family, recognized by large deciduous shrub habit in coastal areas.
Canary Island st. johnswort is a naturalized shrub found in coastal central and southern California in disturbed areas at elevations below 230 meters. Flowering from May to June, this plant produces bright yellow flowers in clusters of up to 30 per stem, with petals 12 to 17 millimeters long. Growing as a deciduous shrub 2 to 5 meters tall with erect or ascending stems, it has a robust and open branching structure. Its leaves are narrowly lance-oblong, 2 to 7 centimeters long, with a tapered base and densely covered in glandular dots. The fruit is an ovoid capsule 10 to 12 millimeters long, with persistent style base and yellow-brown seeds.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 2 sympatric species; diagnostic large deciduous shrub habit in coastal areas
Habitat and range
Habitat: Disturbed areas
Elevation: < 230 m
California counties: Orange, Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz, San Diego, San Mateo
Outside California: native to Canary Islands
Bloom period
Hypericum canariense blooms May-Jun.
Conservation status
Cal-IPC Yes
How to tell it apart
vs Euphorbia: Euphorbia has milky sap and tiny flowers in cups; Hypericum has clear sap and showy yellow flowers.; vs Lysimachia: Lysimachia has stamens separate, not bundled; Hypericum's stamens cluster into 3-5 distinct bunches.; vs Lonicera: Lonicera is a woody vine or shrub; Hypericum is herbaceous with opposite leaves.; vs Dendromecon: Dendromecon is a woody shrub with 4 petals; Hypericum is herbaceous with 5 petals.; vs Mentzelia: Mentzelia has rough, sandpapery leaves; Hypericum has smooth leaves with translucent dots.
Frequently asked questions
Is Hypericum canariense native to California?
No. Hypericum canariense is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Hypericum canariense bloom?
Hypericum canariense blooms May-Jun.
Where in California does Hypericum canariense grow?
Hypericum canariense occurs in Orange, Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz, San Diego, San Mateo, at elevations of < 230 m.
What plant family does Hypericum canariense belong to?
Hypericum canariense is in the Hypericaceae family, genus Hypericum.
Is Hypericum canariense invasive in California?
Hypericum canariense is listed by Cal-IPC with an invasiveness rating of Yes.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.