Hypericum Berries: A Florist's Guide to the Glossy Berry in Bouquets
Hypericum berries are the small, glossy, round fruits of ornamental St John's wort, grown specifically as a cut flower. Florists use them as an accent in bouquets because they come in red, pink, peach, green, cream, brown and almost black, they hold their shape for two weeks or more, and they add texture that flowers alone cannot give. The berries are decorative only and should not be eaten.
In our Saint Petersburg shops, hypericum is one of the stems customers point at most often and ask about by description: the little shiny berries, the ones that look like rosehips. Our shops have been open since 2011, and over the years the questions about it have stayed the same: what the plant is, whether it is safe around children and pets, how long it lasts and which flowers it suits. This article answers each of them in turn.
What the plant is
Hypericum is a large genus of shrubs and perennials known in English as St John's wort. The hypericum sold for bouquets comes from shrubby garden forms related to tutsan, a woodland shrub that naturally produces red berries that ripen to black. Breeders have selected varieties with larger, firmer berries, longer stems and a wider colour range, and these are now grown in greenhouses for the cut-flower trade.
A single stem carries several clusters of berries, each about the size of a pea or a little larger, framed by small green leaves and sometimes a few remaining sepals at the tip of each fruit. Customers sometimes confuse hypericum with rosehips, cranberries or viburnum. Hypericum berries are smoother, more evenly round and sit upright on the stem rather than hanging, which is what makes them so easy to place in a bouquet.
The flowers of the plant, which come before the berries, are bright yellow with a fluffy crown of stamens. Florists rarely use them, because the berries are the decorative stage that lasts. When you buy a hypericum stem, you are buying the fruiting stage, and that is exactly why it outlives most of the flowers next to it.
Colours and what each one does in a bouquet
Red hypericum is the classic choice and the one most customers expect. It brings warmth and a festive note, which is why it appears in autumn and New Year bouquets alongside roses, chrysanthemums and eucalyptus. A few stems of red berries can turn a calm white bouquet into something celebratory without changing its overall mood.
Pink and peach berries work in soft, romantic compositions. They pair well with garden roses, eustoma and spray roses in blush tones, adding a point of texture in the middle of smooth petals. Cream and pale green berries are the most versatile: they fit wedding bouquets, white-and-green arrangements and any composition where the florist wants freshness rather than contrast.
Brown, chocolate and near-black berries are popular in bouquets for men and in autumn arrangements with burgundy, terracotta and rust tones. They look deliberate and modern, and they balance bright flowers so the bouquet does not feel too sweet. When customers ask us for a bouquet that is not too pink, hypericum in a dark shade is often part of the answer.
Bouquets we can deliver
How long hypericum lasts and how to care for it
With basic care, hypericum stays fresh for two weeks, and often longer. In a mixed bouquet it is usually the last stem standing: the roses and eustoma fade, while the berries still look firm and glossy. Many customers keep the hypericum and a few sprigs of greenery after the rest of the bouquet has gone, and put them in a small vase on their own.
Care is simple. Trim the stems by one or two centimetres at an angle, remove any leaves that would sit underwater, and place the stems in clean, cool water. Change the water every two days and trim again. Hypericum stems are woody, so a sharp knife or secateurs gives a cleaner cut than household scissors, which tend to crush the stem and slow down water uptake.
The first sign of age is the leaves, not the berries: they start to yellow or curl. Pull off tired leaves as they appear and the stem will keep looking tidy. Berries that wrinkle or develop dark spots should be snipped off so they do not spoil the water. For a detailed look at longevity, see our article on hypericum berry vase life.
Are hypericum berries safe at home
Hypericum berries are not edible. Plants of this genus contain hypericin and related compounds, and the berries of tutsan-type hypericum are generally regarded as mildly toxic if swallowed, mainly causing stomach upset. The amount in a few berries is small, but the bright, glossy fruits look tempting to small children, so it is sensible to place the vase out of their reach.
Pets deserve the same caution. Cats tend to chew on plants in bouquets, and grazing animals that eat St John's wort in quantity are known to become sensitive to sunlight. A cat nibbling a bouquet is unlikely to eat enough for that, but if you have a pet that chews flowers, stand the bouquet on a high shelf or ask us to compose it without berries.
Handling the stems is safe. Hypericum does not have thorns or irritating sap, and the berries do not stain hands or tablecloths the way some fruit does. If a berry falls off and gets crushed on a light surface, it may leave a faint mark, so a tray or saucer under a low arrangement is a practical habit.
Where hypericum fits: seasons and occasions
Hypericum is grown in greenhouses and is available all year, but customers ask for it most in autumn and winter. In September and October it goes into warm bouquets with chrysanthemums, dahlias and roses in amber and burgundy. In December, red hypericum with conifer sprigs, eucalyptus and white roses makes a New Year bouquet that lasts well beyond the holiday.
It is also a practical choice for bouquets that need to travel or wait. Because the berries are firm, they cope well with being carried home on public transport and with a few hours in an office before they reach a vase. For corporate gifts and bouquets for men, we often build the composition around berries, foliage and a few strong flowers, so it looks restrained and stays neat.
For weddings, cream and green hypericum is a common detail in bridal bouquets and buttonholes, since it keeps its shape all day and does not wilt in the heat of a reception hall. If you want to see how florists combine the berries with specific flowers, our article on hypericum in bouquets goes through popular pairings and varieties.
Ordering a bouquet with hypericum from us
You can choose a bouquet with hypericum in our catalogue and send it anywhere we deliver in Russia. City delivery costs 500 RUB; for remote districts and suburbs, the operator confirms the price when confirming the order. In Saint Petersburg, where our three shops are on Ilyushina Street, the Obvodny Canal Embankment and Srednerogatskaya Street, delivery runs around the clock.
In large cities we deliver 1-2 hours after the order is confirmed, at an exact time give or take 30 minutes, or in a time window: 09-12, 12-15, 15-18 or 18-21. You can also order 1-30 days in advance. The courier calls the recipient about 15 minutes before arriving; if nobody is in, we arrange a second delivery the same day or, with your consent, leave the bouquet with a neighbour or concierge.
Payment is online on the site by bank card, SBP or Yandex Pay, and foreign bank cards are accepted through Robokassa. Delivery is anonymous by default, and a card with your message is free. If you want a particular colour of berries or a bouquet built around them, call us on 8 (812) 507-67-05 before ordering. We deliver bouquets across Russia in 1–2 hours.
Frequently asked questions
Can you eat hypericum berries?
No. Hypericum berries are decorative and are considered mildly toxic if swallowed. Keep bouquets with them out of reach of small children and pets.
How long do hypericum berries last in a vase?
Usually two weeks or more with fresh water and trimmed stems. In a mixed bouquet they typically outlast all the flowers.
What colours does hypericum come in?
Red, pink, peach, cream, green, brown and almost black. Red is the classic festive choice, while cream and green suit weddings and fresh white compositions.
Is hypericum the same as St John's wort?
Yes, hypericum is the botanical name of the St John's wort genus. The cut-flower varieties are shrubby forms bred for large, long-lasting berries.
Can I order a bouquet with hypericum from abroad?
Yes. Choose a bouquet in the catalogue and pay online; foreign bank cards are accepted through Robokassa. City delivery costs 500 RUB.
Ready to send a bouquet?
Pick a city, choose the flowers, and we will hand them over with a photo confirmation.
Choose a city →