Spring Wedding Barrenwort

Spring Wedding Barrenwort (Epimedium grandiflorum 'Spring Wedding')

Spring Wedding Barrenwort (Epimedium grandiflorum 'Spring Wedding') is a refined shade perennial prized for its romantic sprays of soft pink-and-white, long-spurred blooms in mid to late spring and its heart-shaped foliage that shifts in color through the seasons. New leaves often emerge bronze to rose, mature rich green for summer, and can warm to red tones in fall. Forming a slowly spreading, drought-tolerant clump, it excels beneath trees, along shaded paths, and in woodland borders where elegant texture and dependable performance are essential.

Distinctive Features

Graceful, two-toned blossoms with white sepals and blush-pink spurs float above wiry stems; fresh spring growth flushed bronze for added color; semi-evergreen in mild climates; naturally deer and rabbit resistant; notable tolerance of dry, rooty shade once established.

Growing Conditions

• Sun Exposure: Partial to full shade; morning sun acceptable with steady moisture.
• Soil: Humus-rich, well-drained loam; benefits from added compost or leaf mold.
• Water: Moderate; keep evenly moist the first season, then water deeply during prolonged dry spells.
• USDA Hardiness Zones: 5 to 8.
• Mature Size: About 8 to 12 inches tall in leaf, 12 to 16 inches in bloom, slowly spreading 18 to 24 inches over time.

Ideal Uses

• Woodland Gardens: Two-tone flowers and layered foliage brighten shaded beds.
• Understory & Dry Shade: Reliable beneath tree canopies and around established roots.
• Edging & Paths: Compact clumps create a tidy, fine-textured border.
• Groundcover Massing: Plant in drifts for a durable, living mulch.
• Mixed Shade Borders: Partners well with hellebores, ferns, hostas, and heucheras.

Low Maintenance Care

• Cutback: Shear old foliage in late winter before buds rise to showcase the spring display.
• Mulching: Apply 2 to 3 inches of compost or leaf mold to conserve moisture and enrich soil.
• Feeding: Light spring top-dress with compost or a balanced slow-release fertilizer.
• Division: Split clumps in spring or early fall to refresh vigor or extend plantings.
• Watering: After establishment, occasional deep watering in extended drought is sufficient.

Why Choose Spring Wedding Barrenwort?

• Romantic Spring Color: Soft pink-and-white spurred flowers create a luminous, floating effect.
• Seasonal Foliage Interest: Bronze spring flush and warm fall tints provide multi-season appeal.
• Shade Problem Solver: Thrives in dry, root-filled sites where many perennials fail.
• Low Care & Durable: Deer and rabbit resistant, drought tolerant once established.
• Design Versatility: Fine texture elevates woodland, courtyard, and contemporary schemes.

Epimedium grandiflorum 'Spring Wedding' delivers delicate bloom, subtle foliage color shifts, and dependable, low-maintenance performance in shaded, well-drained sites, making it a standout groundcover or edging for refined, water-wise designs.