About Hypericum canariense L.
Hypericum canariense L. is a flowering shrub that reaches 2 to 3 metres (6 feet 7 inches to 9 feet 10 inches) in height. Its numerous stems hold waxy, lance-shaped leaves that measure 5 to 7 centimetres (2.0 to 2.8 inches) long. It produces an abundance of flowers; each flower has five petals that range from bright to deep yellow, each just over a centimeter long, plus many yellowish whisker-like stamens. This species reproduces both by seed, contained in its dehiscent dry fruits, and vegetatively via rhizomes. It is commonly misidentified as Hypericum canadense or Cleomella arborea due to their similar flower structure and large stamens.
The species is endemic to the Canary Islands and Madeira. In this native range, it grows in low-moisture scrub and forested slopes on the five westernmost islands, at elevations between 150 and 800 m (490 and 2,620 ft). It is also an introduced species in Australia, New Zealand, and the U.S. states of California and Hawaii, where it grows as an escaped ornamental plant and is generally classified as a minor noxious weed.
Hypericum canariense grows in clayey, sandy, and loam soils. It can be found along creeklines and roadsides, and is prominent in dry scrub habitats and mesic forests, where it often grows alongside Globularia salicina.
