Commonly called tutsan or sweet-amber, the species is cultivated as an ornamental plant because of its striking red-tinted foliage, bright yellow petals, and its large clusters of fruit.

The plant is native to Western Europe, North Africa and the Middle East, but has been introduced elsewhere in temperate areas with high rainfall, including Australia and New Zealand.

The plant is easily dispersed across wide ranges because of its small and numerous seeds, and methods for biological control are required to manage the species.

[2] Hypericum androsaemum has a well-studied phytochemical profile as a result of its use as folk medicine and an herbal supplement.

Several different sesquiterpene hydrocarbons dominate the profile, and intermediate and long chain alkenes are highly present.

[9] The common name tutsan is French in origin, and derives from the phrase tout-saine, which means heal-all, in reference to the plant's medicinal properties.

[3] Its alternative name sweet-amber is in reference to the ambergris-like aroma that is emitted when oil glands on its leaves are crushed.

[11] This original description and type specimen analysis by Linnaeus remains the basis for the modern definition of the species.

[13] In 1796, the garden of Chapel Allerton published a list of their plant specimens, noting Hypericum androsaemum as being in their collection, along with the fact it had been described by Linnaeus.

Still, the description corroborated with the one given by Linnaeus and there is consensus that the specimen Allioni observed did, in fact, belong to Hypericum androsaemum and was not a separate species.

It can be told apart from H. foliosum and H. × inodorum by its shorter styles, the unique black color of its ripe berries, and that its petals are never longer than its sepals.

The most apparent morphological difference between it and H. xylosteifolium is that the seed capsules (berries) of the latter species dry completely when they are mature, whereas those of H. androsaemum remain soft and fleshy.

[7] The berries of H. androsaemum only dry if they are left on the plant for around a month after ripening, and will begin to wither at that same time.

[2] Hypericum androsaemum is found in damp and shady areas at a great range of elevations, from low-lying regions up to 1,800 m (5,900 ft).

It is particularly abundant across the British Isles (except for in the Scottish Highlands), in the Ardennes forest of Belgium and France, and on the western French coast.

Other European populations include the Pyrenees Mountains, across northern Spain and Portugal, and around Genoa and parts of central Italy.

[3] In the late 19th century, H. androsaemum was a popular ornamental plant, leading to its widespread dispersal in non-native regions.

The seed and leaf-tip eating moth Lathronympha strigana and the leaf-feeding beetle Chrysolina abchasica were tested and found to be sufficiently host specific and not a risk to native plant species.

While the plant performs best if spaced roughly 90 cm (3.0 ft) apart from others, it will self-sow via seed in its area if allowed, creating ground cover.

In particular, room-temperature water or the plant hormone gibberellic acid are most effective at bringing its seeds out of a dormant state.

[20]In order to combat the invasive tendencies of Hypericum androsaemum, triploid clones of plants with desirable characteristics have been developed by several herbariums.

[22] These triploid specimens have been shown to have massively reduced male fertility and complete female infertility; in addition, they still produce the large and colorful fruits for which H. androsaemum is known, and at rates similar to regular diploid plants.

For example, it is used as a diuretic, to treat sciatica and gout, and to stem bleeding and accelerate healing from burns and minor wounds.

[3] Because H. androsaemum does not contain hypericin, a chemical present in other Hypericum species that can cause skin irritation and other undesirable side effects, the plant is more widely used in topical applications and skincare.

[28] In Portugal, the leaves are used to treat liver, kidney, and bladder ailments,[29] while in England they are mixed with lard to make an ointment to put on cuts or other wounds.

[30] The antioxidant properties of the berries of Hypericum androsaemum have been confirmed in laboratory testing, lending credence to their use in teas as antihepatotoxics or diuretics.