Many ornamentals and a few crops make this family of some economic importance. Trees, shrubs, lianas or herbs. Leaves opposite or whorled, simple and usually entire, estipulate and often glandular punctate. Plants monoecious, dioecious or synoecious. Inflorescence of solitary flowers or variously cymose.
Flowers perfect or impergect, regular.
Sepals 4 or 5, distinct. Fruit a berry, drupe or capsule. Hypericum species are important ornamental flowering shrubs and herbs, often used as ground covers. Some species are invasive weeds.