I have some lavender seedlings, I am not sure of the cultivar. If you are interested, I would be interested in the siberian iris you have available for trade. Kathy

This hypericum froze down because your climate is too cold, Otherwise it would keep all of the top. Of the ones with woody stems and showy flowers only H. calycinum is routinely cut back in spring even in climates where the top does not freeze back, the leaves having often been damaged enough to make removal desirable. >We informed them that they would have to wait till new growth crowded out last years growth which would result in viewing a shrub with a brown green appearance till old growth fell or rotted off. This could cause disease or insect infestationThat is false. Spoiled tops should be cut before new growth much advanced. Presence of old damaged tops would not be likely to be unhealthy, just ugly.

Shouldn't be that ephemeral (or expensive). Doubtless you read about another kind. There are about 400 wild species of Hypericum, varying in habit from non-woody to actual trees--with the garden selections like 'Hidcote' representing an additional number. In England 'Hidcote' is "A superb, hardy, semi-evergreen shrub of compact habit, 2m high by 2-2.5m wide...now one of the most popular of all flowering shrubs" (Hillier Manual of Trees & Shrubs)

Natalie, I think you have an extra "c" in there... try googling "Hypericum Hidcote" instead. I got lots of hits that way, including the link below where it says it's semi-evergreen in zone 8: Here is a link that might be useful: Davesgarden review