{"product_id":"gemo-hypericum","title":"Gemo Hypericum","description":"\u003ch1\u003eA Tough, Long-Blooming Native Shrub Smothered in Golden Flowers\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGemo Hypericum (Hypericum kalmianum 'Gemo') is a compact, tidy native shrub that covers itself in radiant yellow flowers from June well into late summer. A selection of Kalm's St. John's Wort native to the Upper Midwest, it's drought-tough, pollinator-friendly, and about as low-maintenance as a flowering shrub gets. Whether you're edging a sunny bed in Plymouth, massing a low hedge in Woodbury, or filling a hot, dry spot in Eden Prairie — Gemo brings months of gold to zone 4b–5a yards.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eGemo 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 'Gemo'\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\u003e2–3 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, tightly branched, very tidy mound\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). Tolerates light shade; blooms best 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\u003e4–7 (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 — narrow, willow-like blue-green leaves all season; little fall color.\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\u003eRadiant golden-yellow flowers with showy stamens, June through August (sporadic into fall); bees love them.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eGemo Hypericum Uses in Minnesota Landscapes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eLow hedges and massing\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGemo's dense, uniform habit makes it ideal for a low informal hedge or a clean mass planting. Space 24–30 inches apart for a continuous band of summer gold along a walk or foundation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eTough, dry, and hot sites\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIts drought tolerance suits that baking strip along a south-facing wall, driveway, or boulevard in Burnsville or Bloomington where thirstier shrubs fail. It shrugs off poor, rocky soil.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003ePollinator and native gardens\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe pollen-rich yellow flowers are a magnet for native bees through mid-summer, making Gemo 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 Gemo 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 Gemo 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\u003eGemo 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 24–30 inches apart for a hedge or mass; give single shrubs room to round out.\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 Gemo 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 Gemo is genuinely drought-tolerant and needs water only during extended dry spells. Let natural rainfall do most of the work — this is a plant that 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 Gemo Hypericum 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\u003eDo I need to prune it?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eVery little. For the tidiest habit and best bloom, cut it back by about a third in early spring before growth starts — it flowers on new wood.\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 Gemo 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 — that's one of its best traits. Gemo thrives in lean, dry, rocky, or sandy sites where many shrubs struggle, making it perfect for hot boulevards and low-water beds.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eYou May Also Like\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCobalt-n-Gold Hypericum — a silver-blue-foliage 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 Gemo Hypericum Do I Need?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor a continuous low hedge or band of summer gold, space Gemo 2.5 feet on center (the body's 24–30 inch spacing):\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eRun Length\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003ePlants Needed (2.5 ft spacing)\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e5 feet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e2 plants\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e10 feet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e4 plants\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e20 feet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e8 plants\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e30 feet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e12 plants\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn a pollinator bed, plant drifts of 3–5 on the same spacing; a single mound fills a 3-foot circle at the front of a border.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eGemo Hypericum Season-by-Season in Minnesota\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSpring:\u003c\/strong\u003e Cut back by a third in early spring — it blooms on new wood — then narrow blue-green, willow-like leaves clothe the tidy mound.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSummer:\u003c\/strong\u003e The main event: radiant golden flowers with showy puffball stamens from June through August, worked constantly by native bees.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFall:\u003c\/strong\u003e Sporadic late blooms taper off; small ornamental seed capsules ripen as the foliage quietly drops.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWinter:\u003c\/strong\u003e A dense, twiggy low mound with persistent seed capsules — unbothered by deer and hardy through Twin Cities winters.\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\/cobalt-n-gold-hypericum\"\u003eCobalt-n-Gold Hypericum\u003c\/a\u003e — silver-blue foliage with the same golden flowers for a two-texture hypericum pairing.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/gro-low-sumac\"\u003eGro-Low Sumac\u003c\/a\u003e — a tough native groundcover for the same hot, dry, low-water sites.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/firefly-diervilla\"\u003eFirefly Diervilla\u003c\/a\u003e — native, drought-tough, with glowing foliage that echoes Gemo's gold theme.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/karl-foerster-feather-reed-grass\"\u003eKarl Foerster Feather Reed Grass\u003c\/a\u003e — vertical plumes rising behind the low golden mounds.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eIs Gemo Hypericum Right for Your Yard?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eChoose Gemo for full-sun, lean, dry, or rocky sites — boulevards, south walls, driveway strips — where you want months of golden bloom, native-bee value, and true deer resistance on a tidy 2–3 foot mound. It's not a fit for soggy ground or deep shade, where it thins out and bloom drops off sharply.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Three Timbers Minnesota","offers":[{"title":"#2 Gallon","offer_id":54312943845681,"sku":null,"price":21.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0986\/0694\/0465\/files\/gemo-hypericum.jpg?v=1779727884","url":"https:\/\/threetimbersmn.com\/products\/gemo-hypericum","provider":"Three Timbers Minnesota","version":"1.0","type":"link"}