This yellow-flowered herb is everywhere on nature apps right now
iNaturalist Community
Invasive Species
If you've noticed clusters of small yellow flowers with black-dotted petals along roadsides or in your garden bed this month, you're likely seeing the same plant hundreds of other people just logged, and in many US states it's classified as a noxious weed worth learning to identify.
St. John's Wort is a plant with bright yellow flowers that's having a big moment on iNaturalist, a nature-spotting app, with 333 confirmed sightings in just one week. It blooms heavily in midsummer, which is exactly why so many people are noticing and photographing it right now. The plant has a long history in herbal medicine, but it also spreads aggressively and is considered invasive in parts of North America and Australia.
Key Findings
333 research-grade observations logged in a single week, making it one of the most-observed plant species on iNaturalist this period
Peak bloom timing in mid-to-late July drives the spike in citizen-science sightings across its range
The species is both a popular medicinal herb and a listed noxious weed in several regions, creating identification interest from multiple angles
chevron_right Technical Summary
Common St. John's Wort is popping up everywhere right now, with 333 people logging research-grade sightings of it on iNaturalist this week alone. The surge shows how easy this bright yellow-flowered plant is to spot in midsummer, and it's a good reminder to check whether it's welcome or invasive in your area.
Abstract Preview
Original paper
Trending: Common St. John's Wort (Hypericum perforatum) — 333 observations this week
Common St. John's Wort is among the most observed plant species this week with 333 research-grade observations.
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Hypericum perforatum, commonly known as St. John's wort, is a flowering plant in the family Hypericaceae. It is a hairless, perennial herb with woody roots, yellow flowers marked by black glands, and leaves that appear perforated due to translucent glands, producing thousands of seeds per plant.