Epimedium
Epimedium
Barrenwort
- Position: partial shade
- Soil: humus-rich, moist but well-drained soil
- Flowering period: April to May
- Height: 0,2-0,4m
- Foliage: evergreen or deciduous
- Hardiness: fully hardy
Epimedium is a lovely, ground-covering perennial, bearing graceful flowers on wiry stems in mid to late spring. The flowers come in yellow, white, pink and lilac. The heart-shaped leaves with different colours are attractive too.
Varieties
Epimedium x youngianum ‘Niveum’
Epimedium x youngianum ‘Niveum’ bears pretty pure white flowers on red-tinted stems from April to May with heart-shaped leaves. The foliage takes on different tones. In spring the young leaves have a bronze colour, maturing into green, then bronze in autumn.
‘Niveum’ is not evergreen, the foliage will die back in late autumn. New growth will appear again in spring.
Epimedium x rubrum
Epimedium x rubrum looks slightly different with striking, tiny pink-red flowers with a yellow centre. The leaves take on a warm red-bronze in autumn.
Epimedium x versicolor ‘Sulphureum’
Those who want yellow flowers try Epimedium x versicolor ‘Sulphureum’ or Epimedium x perralchicum ‘Frohnleiten’.
Epimedium x rubrum Epimedium x youngianum ‘Niveum’
Pruning
When should epimedium (barrenwort) be pruned. In early spring (February) remove dead leaves and damaged leaves before the new flower spikes begin to emerge.
How to grow epimedium
Epimedium, also known as barrenwort, grows best in humus-rich, well-drained soil in partial shade but tolerates sun if the soil is moist.
Feeding
Apply a 2-3cm layer of compost around the crown of the plant in early spring.
Plant combination
Epimediums mix well with other shade-loving plants such as Dicentra spectabilis, Hosta, Helleborus, Brunnera and Bergenia.
Helleborus orientalis
