Barrenwort

Barrenwort is a rare plant -- one that thrives in the dry shade beneath shallow-rooted trees! It spreads at a moderate rate, forming a graceful, dense groundcover. Almost as a bonus, it also produces dainty flowers shaped like a bishop's miter -- prompting another common name, bishop's cap. Its colorful foliage dangles on slender stalks, providing yet another moniker: fairy wings.

Light:

Part Sun,Shade

Zones:

4-8

Plant Type:

Perennial

Plant Height:

6-18 inches tall

Plant Width:

12-24 inches wide

Landscape Uses:

Containers,Beds & Borders,Groundcover

Special Features:

Flowers,Attractive Foliage,Fall Color,Winter Interest,Drought Tolerant,Easy to Grow

Top Varieties

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Red barrenwort

Epimedium rubrum foliage is red along the edges and has rosy undertones. Its color intensifies where it receives ample sun before trees leaf out in spring. Zones 4-9
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'Rose Queen' longspur barrenwort

Epimedium grandiflorum 'Rose Queen' has the largest flowers of the group at 1-3/4 inches wide. It grows 1 foot tall. Zones 5-8
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'Sulphureum' bicolor barrenwort

Epimedium x versicolor 'Sulphureum' has whitish blooms with a yellow center. Its evergreen foliage grows 8-12 inches tall. Zones 5-9
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Garden Plans

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Four Gorgeous Bulb and Perennial Gardens
Shade Garden
Drought-Tolerant Slope Garden Plan
No-Fuss Shade Garden Plan

Plant It With

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Hellebore

Hellebore is another tough shade plant with early bloom and attractive foliage.

Columbine

The spurred blooms of columbine echo the form of barrenwort blooms but on a grander scale. Use smaller columbines to maintain a pleasing proportion in size.

Perennial geranium

The purple, blue, and magenta blooms of perennial geranium peak along with barrenwort, but by choosing long-blooming varieties such as 'Rozanne' or 'Jolly Bee' you can have color in the shade nearly all summer.

Propagation

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Division