St. John’s Bush is a stunning perennial that brings vibrant colour and a touch of tropical flair to any garden. With its bright green, slightly glossy lance-shaped leaves, this plant creates a lush, verdant backdrop. The real showstopper, however, is its striking, tubular flowers, typically deep red or magenta, which bloom in clusters and add a dramatic splash of colour to your garden. These vivid blooms make St. John’s Bush a favourite among gardeners seeking to introduce exotic beauty into their landscapes.

St. John’s Bush has a bushy and compact growth habit, typically reaching a height of 3 to 6 feet and spreading about 2 feet wide. It thrives in well-drained, fertile soil and adapts well to both partial shade and full sun, offering versatility for various garden settings. In the Caribbean, its ability to tolerate full sun and warm temperatures makes it particularly well-suited to the region. Regular watering and occasional feeding with a balanced fertiliser will keep this plant healthy and encourage profuse blooming. Pruning after flowering promotes bushier growth and more abundant blooms, helping to maintain its attractive appearance throughout the growing season.

Beyond its ornamental appeal, St. John’s Bush offers several ecological and medicinal benefits. Its vibrant flowers attract a variety of pollinators, including bees, butterflies and hummingbirds, enhancing the biodiversity of your garden. This makes it an excellent choice for gardeners aiming to create a more environmentally friendly and dynamic garden ecosystem. Additionally, St. John’s Bush has a long history in traditional medicine, where it has been used to treat respiratory issues, skin conditions, and to cleanse the blood, thanks to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. It is also valued for supporting women’s health, particularly in addressing afterbirth issues, menstrual pains and for its use in inducing abortions.

Whether you’re looking to attract pollinators, explore its traditional medicinal uses, or simply enjoy its stunning visual appeal, St. John’s Bush is a versatile and valuable addition to any garden.

Common Name: St. John's Bush

Botanical Names:

Justicia Secunda
Dianthera Secunda
Ecbolium Geniculatum
Ecbolium Secundum
Justicia Caripensis
Justicia Geniculata
Justicia Moricandiana
Lustrinia Geniculata
Rhacodiscus Moricandianus
Rhacodiscus Secundus
Rhytiglossa Geniculata
Rhytiglossa Lucida
Rhytiglossa Moricandiana
Rhytiglossa Secunda
Sericographis Caripensis

Family: Acanthaceae

Other Names:

Blood Root
Hotu Ibihi
Komer Kakat Sha
Mata De Sangre
Sangre Linda
Sanguinaria

Origin: Caribbean (Trinidad, Lesser Antilles), Central America (Panama), South America (Colombia, Ecuador, The Guyanas, Suriname, Venezuela)

Duration: Perennial

Habit: St. John’s Bush is a vibrant perennial plant that brings a splash of colour to any garden. This robust plant features a bushy growth habit, typically reaching a height of 3 to 6 feet and spreading about 2 feet wide. Its lance-shaped leaves are bright green, slightly glossy and are arranged opposite each other along the stems, providing a lush backdrop to its stunning tubular flowers. Blooming in clusters, the flowers are a deep red or magenta, attracting pollinators like bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. St. John’s Bush thrives in well-drained, fertile soil and prefers partial shade to full sun, making it adaptable to various garden conditions. It is particularly well-suited to the Caribbean climate, where it can tolerate the warm temperatures and occasional drought. Regular watering and occasional feeding with a balanced fertiliser will keep this plant healthy and blooming profusely. Its resilience and low maintenance requirements make St. John’s Bush an excellent choice for both novice and experienced gardeners looking to add a touch of tropical beauty to their garden.

Hardiness: Hardy

St. John's Bush

Name: St. John's Bush
SKU: AVE-0007581

TT$20.00

Quantity

Out of Stock

Top Diameter: 4.9375"

Height: 4.5625"
Light Conditions:

St. John’s Bush thrives in partial shade but can also tolerate full sun. In the Caribbean, where the sun can be intense, it’s ideal to provide the plant with some protection from the harsh midday sun to prevent leaf scorching. Morning sunlight with afternoon shade is often the best option. From our experience, it is suitably grown under the shade of trees.

Full Sun:
St. John's Bush could be grown in a location that receives at least 6 hours of sunlight per day. This however, is recommended for more established plants.

Partial Shade:
St. John's Bush may grow well with 3 to 6 hours of sunlight per day, primarily morning sun.

Outdoor and Indoor:
St. John’s Bush can be grown both outdoors and indoors. Outdoors, it’s perfect for shaded garden beds, borders or as a ground cover. Indoors, place it in a bright, indirect light location to keep the foliage vibrant.

Temperature and Humidity:

Warm Temperatures:
St. John’s Bush flourishes in warm climates and is well-adapted to the Caribbean’s temperatures, ranging between 21°C to 29°C. It doesn’t tolerate cold well, so it should be protected from any unusual drops in temperature.

High Humidity:
St. John’s Bush enjoys high humidity. If grown indoors, ensure that humidity levels are maintained, especially in air-conditioned environments, by misting the plant regularly or using a humidity tray.

Soil:

Use well-draining soil enriched with organic matter.

Use a mix of garden soil, compost and sand or perlite to ensure good drainage while retaining enough moisture for the plant's roots.

St. John’s Bush thrives in slightly acidic to neutral soil pH.

St. John’s Bush has been reported to grow in forests and along streams.

Mulch (such as grass clippings and wood chips) can be added to the surface of the soil to retain moisture and keep down weeds.

Watering Frequency:

Keep the soil consistently moist, but not waterlogged.

Water the plant when the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch..

St. John’s Bush prefers moist soil, so frequent watering might be necessary, especially during the hot and dry season. However, ensure the soil drains well to prevent root rot.

Amendments and Fertiliser:

Fertilise St. John’s Bush every 4 to 6 weeks during the growing season (spring and summer) with a balanced, water-soluble fertiliser. This helps promote healthy growth and vibrant foliage.

Reduce feeding in the fall and winter when the plant’s growth naturally slows down.

Pruning and Maintenance:

Regular Pruning:
Prune the plant regularly to maintain its shape and encourage bushier growth. Remove any dead or yellowing leaves to keep the plant healthy and attractive. Pruning also helps to prevent the plant from becoming too leggy.

Cleaning:
Occasionally wipe the leaves with a damp cloth to remove dust and allow the plant to photosynthesize more efficiently.

Pest and Disease Control:

Pests:
St. John’s Bush is relatively pest-resistant, but it can occasionally attract aphids, spider mites, grasshoppers or whiteflies. Regularly inspect the plant and treat any infestations with insecticidal soap or neem oil.

Diseases:
St. John’s Bush is generally disease-resistant but can suffer from root rot if overwatered. Ensure proper watering practices and well-draining soil to avoid this issue.

Propagation:

Stem Cuttings:
St. John’s Bush is easily propagated by stem cuttings. Take cuttings in the spring or early summer and root them in water or moist soil. Once rooted, transplant them into a suitable pot or garden location.
Entire Plant -
A tea made from steeping components of the entire plant of St. John’s Bush can be used as a treatment for afterbirth problems. In addition, a decoction of the entire plant combined with Barbadine, Black Sage, Gully Root and Spanish Thyme can be taken for dysmenorrhoea (painful menstrual periods) and as a post-menstrual cleaner. Another decoction of the entire components of St. John’s Bush can be formulated, mixed with Eye Bright and Minnieroot, to relieve menstrual pains, induce abortion, and help clean the womb (remove tissue in the womb) after a miscarriage. Adding St. John’s Bush in a bath can help treat skin rashes and has traditionally been used for rashes in babies.

Leaves -
The leaves of St. John’s Bush can be steeped to make a tea for the treatment of anaemia (not enough healthy red blood cells or oxygen-rich blood), cold, cough, whooping cough, fever, malaria and measles. The tea can also be used to cool the body.

Stems -
The stem and leaves of St. John’s Bush can be incorporated to make a clarified infusion (strained infusion that removes suspended components of the plant in the drink) to address amenorrhoea (absence of menstrual periods).

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St. John's Bush

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