{"product_id":"cobalt-n-gold-hypericum","title":"Cobalt-n-Gold Hypericum","description":"\u003ch1\u003eSilver-Blue Foliage and Golden Flowers on a Tough Native Shrub\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCobalt-n-Gold Hypericum (Hypericum kalmianum 'Cobalt-n-Gold') pairs cool silver-blue foliage with warm golden-yellow flowers for a striking two-tone shrub that looks good all season. A selection of native Kalm's St. John's Wort, it's drought-tough, pollinator-friendly, and neatly rounded. Whether you're brightening a sunny border in Plymouth, massing a low hedge in Woodbury, or filling a hot, dry bed in Eden Prairie — Cobalt-n-Gold delivers easy color in zone 4b–5a yards.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eCobalt-n-Gold Hypericum Plant Details\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003cthead\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eAttribute\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eDetail\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/thead\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eScientific Name\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eHypericum kalmianum 'Cobalt-n-Gold'\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCommon Names\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eKalm's St. John's Wort, Shrubby St. John's Wort\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMature Height\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e2–3 feet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMature Width\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e4–5 feet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGrowth Rate\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eModerate — dense, neatly rounded habit\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSun\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFull sun (6+ hours). The silver-blue color is richest in full sun.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWater\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLow to moderate. Drought-tolerant once established; adaptable to most soils.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eUSDA Zones\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e4–8 (Twin Cities is zone 4b–5a)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSoil\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eVery adaptable — tolerates Minnesota clay-loam, sandy, and rocky soils; handles dry sites well.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFoliage\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDeciduous — distinctive silver-blue, willow-like leaves all season.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWinter Hardiness\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReliable to -30°F. Fully hardy in the Twin Cities.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDeer Resistance\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eStrongly deer-resistant — rarely browsed.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNative Status\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eUpper Midwest native — supports native bees and the Lawns to Legumes program.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBloom\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eShowy golden-yellow flowers in late spring to early summer; a bee favorite.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eCobalt-n-Gold Hypericum Uses in Minnesota Landscapes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFoliage contrast and color echo\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe silver-blue leaves make a cool foil for hot-colored perennials and a fresh backdrop for the shrub's own gold flowers. Use it where you want season-long foliage interest, not just bloom.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eLow hedges and tough sites\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIts dense, rounded habit and drought tolerance suit a low informal hedge, a hot south-facing strip, or a boulevard planting in Burnsville or Bloomington. Space 36–48 inches apart for a continuous band.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003ePollinator and native gardens\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe pollen-rich flowers feed native bees in early summer, making Cobalt-n-Gold a natural fit for a Lawns to Legumes or naturalistic planting across the Twin Cities metro.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eBest Time to Plant Cobalt-n-Gold Hypericum in Minnesota\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFall (late August–early October) is the ideal planting window. Soil is still warm for root development, cool air reduces transplant stress, and the plant gets 6–8 weeks to establish roots before ground freeze (typically mid-November in the Twin Cities).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSpring (late April–May, after the ground thaws) is the second-best window, giving the shrub a full season to establish before its first winter.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAvoid summer planting (June–August) when possible. Never plant after mid-October or before late April — frozen ground or frost-heaving kills new roots.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHow to Plant Cobalt-n-Gold Hypericum\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDig wide, not deep — 2–3× the root ball width, same depth as the container.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIt isn't fussy about soil, but on heavy clay loosen a wide area to improve drainage.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBackfill with native soil mixed with 20–30% compost; firm gently and water in well.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSpace plants 36–48 inches apart for a hedge or mass; this cultivar spreads wider than it is tall.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBuild a shallow water basin the first season, then flatten it before winter.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMulch 2–3 inches with shredded bark or wood chips, kept 2 inches off the stems. Do not use gravel mulch in Minnesota.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ol\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWatering Cobalt-n-Gold Hypericum in Minnesota\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFirst Year Watering Schedule\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWeeks 1–2: Every 2–3 days, deep and slow (15–25 minutes)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMonth 1–2: Every 4–5 days\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMonth 3–6: Every 7 days or less; skip during rainy stretches\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eStop watering 2–3 weeks before ground freeze (typically late October in the Twin Cities metro).\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAfter Year One\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEstablished Cobalt-n-Gold is genuinely drought-tolerant and needs water only during extended dry spells. Let natural rainfall do most of the work — it prefers lean conditions over pampering.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eDrip Irrigation in Minnesota\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf used, place emitters 12–18 inches from the trunk; this shrub needs far less water than most, so run shorter cycles. Always winterize the system — blow out the lines before freeze and shut timers off by early October.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWill Cobalt-n-Gold survive a Minnesota winter?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes — it's reliably hardy to zone 4 and, as an Upper Midwest native, it's well adapted to our winters. A light mulch the first winter is all it needs.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow is it different from Gemo Hypericum?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSame tough native species and golden flowers, but Cobalt-n-Gold has distinctive silver-blue foliage and a wider, more spreading habit, while Gemo is greener and more upright-compact.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs it deer-resistant?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eStrongly. Deer almost always pass over St. John's Wort, making it dependable even in high-pressure suburbs like Minnetonka and Eden Prairie.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDoes it tolerate dry, poor soil?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes — it thrives in lean, dry, rocky, or sandy sites where many shrubs struggle, making it ideal for hot boulevards and low-water beds.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eYou May Also Like\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGemo Hypericum — the greener, more upright St. John's Wort with the same golden flowers\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eShop the full Three Timbers Minnesota catalog — zone 4-hardy plants hand-selected for Twin Cities yards\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFull Sun \u0026amp; Low-Water Plants — tough shrubs and perennials for hot, dry sites\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c!-- tt-enriched --\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHow Many Cobalt-n-Gold Hypericum Do I Need?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor a low informal hedge or mass planting, space Cobalt-n-Gold 3–4 feet apart (the body's own 36–48 inch spacing — it spreads wider than tall):\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eRun Length\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003ePlants Needed (3.5 ft spacing)\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e10 feet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e3\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e20 feet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e6\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e30 feet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e9\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e40 feet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e11–12\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn a pollinator bed, plant in groups of 3 at 4-foot spacing so the gold bloom reads as one drift over the silver-blue mound.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eCobalt-n-Gold Hypericum Season-by-Season in Minnesota\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSpring:\u003c\/strong\u003e Silver-blue, willow-like leaves emerge in May — the foliage show starts well before the first flower.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSummer:\u003c\/strong\u003e Golden-yellow flowers smother the mound from late June into midsummer, buzzing with native bees against the cool blue foliage.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFall:\u003c\/strong\u003e Foliage stays tidy and blue-toned late into the season, with small seed capsules where the flowers were.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWinter:\u003c\/strong\u003e Deciduous — a low, dense twiggy mound that holds snow; fully hardy to -30°F with no protection needed.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAt a Glance\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e✔ Minnesota Native   ✔ Pollinator-Friendly   ✔ Deer-Resistant   ✔ Drought-Tolerant\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003ePlant It With\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/gemo-hypericum\"\u003eGemo Hypericum\u003c\/a\u003e — the greener, more upright sibling; mix the two for a varied native St. John's Wort band.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/goldfinger-potentilla\"\u003eGoldfinger Potentilla\u003c\/a\u003e — another tough gold-blooming native-adjacent shrub that extends the yellow show all summer.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/blue-star-juniper\"\u003eBlue Star Juniper\u003c\/a\u003e — evergreen silver-blue that echoes the foliage color and carries the bed through winter.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/karl-foerster-feather-reed-grass\"\u003eKarl Foerster Feather Reed Grass\u003c\/a\u003e — vertical golden plumes behind the low blue mound.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eIs Cobalt-n-Gold Hypericum Right for Your Yard?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCobalt-n-Gold thrives in full sun on lean, dry, even rocky or sandy soil — hot boulevards, south-facing strips, and low-water beds where fussier shrubs fail — and deer leave it alone. As a native selection it earns a spot in any pollinator planting. Not a fit if your site is shady or stays wet: the silver-blue color washes out without 6+ hours of sun, and soggy soil is the one condition this drought-lover won't forgive.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Three Timbers Minnesota","offers":[{"title":"#2 Gallon","offer_id":54312939225393,"sku":null,"price":24.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0986\/0694\/0465\/files\/cobalt-n-gold-hypericum.jpg?v=1779727885","url":"https:\/\/threetimbersmn.com\/products\/cobalt-n-gold-hypericum","provider":"Three Timbers Minnesota","version":"1.0","type":"link"}