Barrenwort (Epimedium)

Epimedium, commonly called Barrenwort, is a shade loving perennial group valued for its graceful heart shaped foliage, airy spring flowers, and dependable groundcover habit in dry shade. Our Barrenwort collection includes clumping and spreading types that knit together beneath trees, along north facing foundations, and in woodland beds where roots compete and summer moisture is limited. In spring, delicate blooms rise above the leaves in soft yellows, whites, pinks, reds, and purples, and the foliage often emerges with bronze or red tones before settling into a dense, weed suppressing carpet that looks clean through the growing season. Epimedium performs best in partial to full shade with well drained soil, tolerates drought once established, and responds well to a simple late winter cutback to show off fresh growth and flowers. Use Barrenwort to create a low maintenance focal point in shade borders, naturalize under shrubs, and connect plantings of hostas, ferns, hellebores, and spring bulbs with lasting, four season texture.