Epimedium versicolor
Barrenwort
Common names: Bishop's hat, Epimedium
At a glance
- Light
- Shade
- Pot size
- from 5 l
- Lifespan
- Perennial
- Flowering
- Apr–May
- Hardiness
- Hardy
Category imageDescription
Barrenwort (Epimedium versicolor) is a winter‑green to semi‑evergreen groundcover that thrives in dry shade beneath trees and shrubs where many other perennials fail. It grows from vigorous rhizomes and produces heart‑shaped, leathery leaves that often emerge in early spring as bronze and later turn a rich green. From April to May delicate, spore‑bearing flowers appear in yellow to copper tones on slender stems, hovering above the foliage like tiny elves, hence the name. The plant is non‑poisonous and suitable for gardens with children and pets.
Care instructions
Plant in autumn or early spring in humus‑rich, well‑drained soil under shrubs. It tolerates root pressure and drought well once established. Cut back old foliage low to the ground in late February or early March to allow the delicate April flowers to stand out. Water regularly only during the first one to two years after planting; thereafter, watering only during extended dry periods is sufficient. A mulch layer of leaf litter or bark humus retains moisture in the root zone and suppresses weeds. Divide larger clumps every few years in late summer to rejuvenate the plant and expand coverage in the garden.
The care notes were machine-translated from German.
Garden year
FloweringApr–May
Soil & site
Soil pH
Soil type
humus-rich, well-drained, moist
Barrenwort likes loose, humus-rich soil, as forms under trees and shrubs. It does not tolerate waterlogging, but a little residual moisture in the root zone is fine. A mulch layer of leaves or bark humus keeps the soil loose and stores moisture. It struggles on heavy, compacted loam; coarse sand or compost helps to loosen it here.
Feeding
Light feeder
As a woodland perennial, barrenwort needs no regular feeding. An annual dose of compost in spring, directly after cutting back the old leaves, is quite enough as a nutrient boost. Rotted leaves, which stay as mulch anyway, additionally supply it with what it knows from its natural habitat.
Overwintering
Barrenwort is hardy and needs no special protection. The old foliage stays standing over winter and protects the leaf buds; cut it back only shortly before new growth in late winter. In very harsh spots it welcomes an additional layer of leaves as cold protection.
Propagation
Methods
- Division
The most reliable method is division in late summer or early autumn, once clump-forming rhizomes have formed. Carefully dig up the plant and separate the rhizome pieces with a sharp knife; each piece should carry several buds. Replant the divisions straight away in humus-rich, partially shaded soil and keep them evenly moist for the first few weeks. Sowing is possible, but with barrenwort it often takes several years to the first flowering and is therefore hardly practised.
For your garden
Grow Barrenwort yourself
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