Selected Plants of Navajo Rangelands

Diné bikéyah Chi’l nooséłígíí Bąąhą́ą́nosin

Take care of our Navajo Rangelands

St. Johnswort

Biłhaazhch’ih

Close-up of yellow flower with five petals and numerous stamens

Norman E. Rees, USDA Agricultural Research Service

Common St. Johnswort is an introduced species that can quickly crowd out other plants in disturbed areas, but does not readily colonize undisturbed areas. It is poisonous to livestock, but it provides a pollen source for wasps and bees.

St. Johnswort grows in a variety of dry, sunny habitats, particularly grasslands, rangelands, or areas disturbed by fire. Plants grow to a height of three feet with many flowers on each plant. Flowers are yellow, with five petals, and a diameter of 3/4 to 1 inch. Leaves are narrow and oblong.

Flower cluster with some flowers past bloom, petals turned dry and pink

Steve Dewey, Utah State University, Bugwood.org

Flower cluster with some flowers past bloom and turning to seed

Eric Coombs, Oregon Department of Agriculture, Bugwood.org

Growth habit with upright stems and narrow, oblong foliage all the way up to a terminal flower

William M. Ciesla, Forest Health Management Intern

Side view of flower at the end of a leafy stem. Flower's stamens stand upright, and the petals tend downwards

William M. Ciesla, Forest Health Management Intern

The flower has five widely spaced yellow petals

William M. Ciesla, Forest Health Management Intern

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Individual photographers retain all rights to their images.
Partially funded by the Western Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program (westernsare.org; 435.797.2257), project EW15-023.
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