Hypericum, can I cut it back hard?

[Bluebell66]

I have a Hypericum (St Johns Wort) in my garden. It has gone all bare and "leggy" apart from some growth and flowers on about the top 18 inches. Does anyone know if I can cut it back really hard and regenerate it, or will it never recover?

TIA

Have done this in previous garden with no problems.

It's pretty bomb proof I think. I hack at mine every so often and it always seems as bushy as ever (disclaimer: I'm not an expert)

Thank you both. That's very helpful, I'll give it a go.

I hack it back, and rip the roots out of the ground, frequently and I can't get rid of it. So I'm sure you'll be fine!

I'm another one who has been trying to kill mine for about three years now and have failed so I'm sure you'll be fine!

This should reassure you:

www.telegraph.co.uk/gardening/gardeningadvice/4963067/Helen-Yemms-Thorny-Problems.html

Book and I were discussing this recently. I have a horrible old, low-growing evergreen hypericum calycinum, which is as tough as old boots. In fact, the reason I have it is that is has proven near-impossible to get rid of! you can prune it back to the ground and it will bounce back. However, book has a more delicate and very much more lovely deciduous variety called 'Hidcote' which is a much higher plant and quite a bit less of a warrior, which needs a gentler spring pruning.

My type is the kind usually called 'St John's Wort' - but I do know people who refer to all hypericum varieties as such (and there are some 400 or so!). So just be careful that it is the calycinum type and not the rather nicer shrubby kind. If it is, then you can virtually mow it and it will still come back.

Hi, the low growing one is actually quite a thug - its very hard to get rid of once you have it! , as everyone who has one can testify (including me!) :)