Will a hypericum produce a second flush of flowers if I trim it down?
United Kingdom 
I've forgotten the name of this particular hypericum, but it is a fairly dwarf variety growing to a max height of about a metre. It's quite a young bush so has grown to only about half that tall this summer. It flowered in June/July, and then beautiful red August berries, now turned a far less attractive black. I felt it's performing period was lovely but fleeting. Will it make another flush if I cut it back? If not I might have it out and plant something longer flowering (or berrying there). I'm really seeking small, long performing plants for my garden. I have found some of my fuchsia varieties this year have been perpetual, whilst others have bloomed with poor intermittance. My dwarf (patio) dahlias are always unending and superb, and I recommend them highly to you all. I'd really appreciate suggestions, or being directed to a list. Much thanks.
4 Sep, 2009
Answers
I agree, H. m. 'tricolore''s great for interesting colour, i have a couple.
I've also had the one you've got there (the 3' one) and i've also had 'Hidcote' - the 6 footer.
That 3' one did produce more flowers sometimes after cutting back but as Bamboo says, a bit late for more now though.
'Tricolore''s still flowering its heart out though - it goes on and on !
4 Sep, 2009
Hey, sorry about this, but I would tend to disagree somewhat. Hypericum is a variable genus, but the more shrubby types do tend to reflower if pruned towards the end of the first main flush.
What however I find, as a more general comment, that would support what has been said, is that gardeners tend to leave their plants in situ. This removes the experience from many, that plants will perform quite considerably differently, according to location.
However, this particular Hypericum has already produced it's seed, so trying to encourage to do what has already done, is likely to be a no winner. You should have chopped the flowers off BEFORE they had a chance to produce seed.
Another little pointer, is that often plants ill-perform according to what's going on at the roots, rather than the fact that they are young.
Put it this way, a Miscanthus that I had had in a pot for 7 years, I recently planted in open soil.
It doubled it's height in three weeks!!!!!
4 Sep, 2009
Is H. Tricolore a small one? Can anyone advise of what height it gets to when mature?
4 Sep, 2009
Yes Jonathan, it only gets to about a foot high and a couple across
4 Sep, 2009
That sounds a really interesting plant. I will look out for that one. I may ask my garden centre. Thanks.
4 Sep, 2009
I've just found 'Tricolore' on Crocus.co.uk It says it flowers from July to October. That sounds a rather better (longer) flowering period than the one I've presently got - if the information on their site is true. I may very well dig it up and swap them over.
5 Sep, 2009
That information they've stated IS true Jonathan, mine's still flowering and will do so easily until October.
In the garden centres around here you pay about £6-8 for a plant in a pot that's at least 6" diameter - i think that's good value.
Obviously a younger and smaller plant would be less.
5 Sep, 2009
It looks similar to my hypericum elstead.
Mine reflowered after a 6-8 week gap though I did cut it back immediately after the first flush in early summer .
5 Sep, 2009
If you get 'Tricolore', give it a sheltered position as it is not quite as hardy as the green-leaved ones. Having said that, mine came through last winter and I'm just up the road from you
5 Sep, 2009
I'm going to get one, as a replacement. I'm hoping it can be pruned quite hard to the ground in winter, so that it will be more easy to throw a protective cloth over during a cold snap. Possibly a bark mulch around the base might be a good idea for it too. Thanks to you all folks.
5 Sep, 2009
Nooo, don't prune it at the end of the season - you'll make it more vulnerable! As long as its surrounded by other planting, it should be fine anyway, but you could always throw a bit of fleece over the top if its bitterly cold. I have it growing in a garden that's like a wind tunnel - faces south, admittedly, but its open and exposed to both east and west winds, with no evergreens growing round it and it survived last winter, when we had snow and frost. If you're really worried, get one in the spring, when its got a season to get bigger and hardier.
5 Sep, 2009
I'm not so sure that you need to prune it that hard in the winter.
I'm in the southern half of the country and mine's fine overwinter, it's just left alone, i only prune it (minimally) to keep it in shape.
5 Sep, 2009
Oops. Dunce hat on my head. Will get one in the spring ... and prune lightly.
5 Sep, 2009
Mine was tiny when I purchased it last autumn but it flourished this year despite 3 feet of snow and several degrees of frost.. at the base of a North facing fence.
I think they are more suseptible to wind than temperature
6 Sep, 2009
My experience of hypericum is that its unlikely you'll get a second "flush" - if you trim back immediately after flowering, you sometimes get more flowers, but not usually a flush as such. Bit late now for trying to get a few more flowers from cutting back, I think. What about using Hypericum moseranium 'tricolore' which at least has variegated yellow/red/green leaves so its a bit more interesting when not in flower.
4 Sep, 2009