Identifying a bush - Ask Extension
Can you help me identify a bush? We need to know what it is to see if/how we're supposed to prune it. (Any links to how to do this would be greatly ...
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Identifying a bush #925110
Asked February 26, 2026, 4:07 PM EST
Can you help me identify a bush? We need to know what it is to see if/how we're supposed to prune it. (Any links to how to do this would be greatly appreciated!) This is our first summer in this yard...so we're learning! The yard is in Linn County, just outside of Corvallis, on Peoria Road. Many thanks!
Linn County Oregon
Expert Response
Hi Dee Dee,
This looks like Tutsan or St. John's Wort. It is a delightful plant that grows into a small shrub with bright yellow flowers and decorative seed pods during the spring and summer. Deer mostly leave it alone. Birds will eat the berries.
It should be pruned in late winter or early spring and this will improve the flowering capacity. Pollinators love the flowers.
I have two plants. One in a decorative garden, it does stand out in front of taller trees.
Here are two links with info on this plant:
https://landscapeplants.oregonstate.edu/plants/hypericum-androsaemum
https://www.thespruce.com/st-johns-wort-plant-profile-4772327
Since your plant has rust, a fungal disease (red spots), I advise you to cut the stems back to about 5-8 inches, remove all the plant cuttings/leaves that may be on the ground and put everything in the trash.
Look at the center of the plant and take out any gray stems completely. You want to increase airflow through the center of the shrub. Therefore, take out some of the center stems. Fungal diseases love moisture.
You should see leaves at the soil level if not now (due to the warm winter we have had) then soon.
If you have further questions, please re-contact us. This is a hardy plant and you probably will not have trouble with it in the future.
An additional link on the fungal disease, rust:
https://extension.umn.edu/plant-diseases/rust-flower-garden
This looks like Tutsan or St. John's Wort. It is a delightful plant that grows into a small shrub with bright yellow flowers and decorative seed pods during the spring and summer. Deer mostly leave it alone. Birds will eat the berries.
It should be pruned in late winter or early spring and this will improve the flowering capacity. Pollinators love the flowers.
I have two plants. One in a decorative garden, it does stand out in front of taller trees.
Here are two links with info on this plant:
https://landscapeplants.oregonstate.edu/plants/hypericum-androsaemum
https://www.thespruce.com/st-johns-wort-plant-profile-4772327
Since your plant has rust, a fungal disease (red spots), I advise you to cut the stems back to about 5-8 inches, remove all the plant cuttings/leaves that may be on the ground and put everything in the trash.
Look at the center of the plant and take out any gray stems completely. You want to increase airflow through the center of the shrub. Therefore, take out some of the center stems. Fungal diseases love moisture.
You should see leaves at the soil level if not now (due to the warm winter we have had) then soon.
If you have further questions, please re-contact us. This is a hardy plant and you probably will not have trouble with it in the future.
An additional link on the fungal disease, rust:
https://extension.umn.edu/plant-diseases/rust-flower-garden
