Epimedium Barrenwort

A delightful evergreen with clouds of little white and yellow flowers through spring. This heritage variety hails from around the black sea, Turkey/Bulgaria/W. Georgia, where it grows commendably in dry shade – this attests to its dry tolerance. It will soldier on for decades without you having to lift a finger. The new spring foliage has hints of purple before maturing to a handsome apple green.

Epimediums have a lot to offer and are surprisingly easy to grow. They are fantastic for planting beneath trees, in shaded borders, as shady ground covers, edging plants or in pots. Such wonderful value for money, they require very little care and provide a lush foliage mound and the daintiest of flowers for months on end. We cannot sing their praises highly enough!

Epimediums are clump forming rhizomatous perennials native to woodland areas. They grow best in dry to moist, humus rich, sandy soils. They are unlikely to thrive in alkaline conditions. Plant in a part shade to bright, filtered light position. They are a rare find in Australian gardens, and we think that is a bit of a shame because they are so easy and so pretty and you should grab them while you can.

Fertilise and mulch Epimediums in winter, they love the soil to be rich in composting leaves, so don't hold back when they fall in autumn. Divide every 3-5 years to increase clumps. It is a good idea to protect new foliage from slugs and snails, that is pretty much it.

You can cut your Epimedium foliage right back late winter or spring, to allow the new leaves and flowers to shine with their fabulous marbling and streaking. Just as you would a Hellebore or Winter Rose. You can leave them be if you don’t have the time, they remain handsome year round with their feature green foliage.

Epimediums are also known as Barrenwort, Bishop’s Hats and Horny Goat Weed.