St. Andrew's Cross (Hypericum hypericoides)

 

St. Andrew's Cross is a member of the St. John's Wort Family. It can be found in poor sandy soils blooming from late summer until frost. It only has four tiny petals and is an evergreen subshrub.

The name of this little flower comes from St. Andrew. According to the gospel of John, he was a follower of John the Baptist. His name, Andrew, comes from the Greek language and means "manly" or "brave". It is said he was the brother of St. Peter. As he heard of CHRIST from John the Baptist's teachings, he acknowledged that HE was the true MESSIAH. As a result, he was captured and crucified.

Feeling he was not worthy to be crucified in the same manner as CHRIST, he demanded that he be bound to a cross in the shape of an "X" where he would hang until his death. This tiny pale yellow flower is a symbol of that cross.

Native Americans and early settlers used the leaves of this plant as an astringent and a purgative. It is quite showy in the fall. I love it.

"One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother."
John 1:40