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Epimedium sempervirens

Common Name(s):

Phonetic Spelling
ep-ih-MEE-dee-um sem-per-VEE-renz
Description

The common name, Bishops Hat comes from the Epimediums flowers resemblance to headwear worn by members of the clergy, called a biretta.   The Latin word semper translates to always, while virens means green.  Together they refer to this plant being evergreen. 

Bishops Hat is a drought-tolerant ground cover for the shade garden that spreads by rhizomes and is native to Japan. It prefers light to moderate shade in average to organically enriched, medium moist, well-drained, acidic soil. The 1-2 inch blooms are held above the foliage in tightly packed racemes in spring and range in color from white to purple depending on the cultivar. The plant will form nice clumps in time. The foliage is also attractive with spring and fall color changes. It is evergreen in zones 7 and above, while semi-evergreen in cooler zones.

Use Bishops Hat in shady borders, rock gardens, woodland areas or line a walkway.  Established plant can hold water through their rhizomes, making this plant both dry soil and drought tolerant.

It is a low maintenance plant, however, any foliage that does not make it through the winter months should be cut down, allowing new growth to emerge.  Propagation should be done in the early spring or in the fall.  

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems. Mosaic virus can affect the plant.  Intolerant of alkaline soils.

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Cherry Hearts'
    Red edged foliage
  • ‘Royal Flush’
    Redder spring foliage
  • 'Violet'
    Lavender flowers
'Cherry Hearts', ‘Royal Flush’, 'Violet'
Tags:
#evergreen#showy flowers#drought tolerant#white flowers#purple flowers#shade garden#showy leaves#spring flowers#fall interest#rabbit resistant#erosion control#deer resistant#groundcover#naturalizes#naturalized area#dry soils tolerant#winter garden#shallow soil tolerant#heavy shade tolerant#alkaline soils intolerant#showy
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Cherry Hearts'
    Red edged foliage
  • ‘Royal Flush’
    Redder spring foliage
  • 'Violet'
    Lavender flowers
'Cherry Hearts', ‘Royal Flush’, 'Violet'
Tags:
#evergreen#showy flowers#drought tolerant#white flowers#purple flowers#shade garden#showy leaves#spring flowers#fall interest#rabbit resistant#erosion control#deer resistant#groundcover#naturalizes#naturalized area#dry soils tolerant#winter garden#shallow soil tolerant#heavy shade tolerant#alkaline soils intolerant#showy
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Epimedium
    Species:
    sempervirens
    Family:
    Berberidaceae
    Uses (Ethnobotany):
    Used as an effective ground cover and for erosion control.
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Division
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Japan
    Play Value:
    Attractive Flowers
    Shade
    Dimensions:
    Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Ground Cover
    Perennial
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Broadleaf Evergreen
    Deciduous
    Semi-evergreen
    Habit/Form:
    Clumping
    Dense
    Growth Rate:
    Medium
    Maintenance:
    Low
    Texture:
    Medium
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Texture:
    Clay
    Loam (Silt)
    Sand
    Shallow Rocky
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    Occasionally Dry
    Available Space To Plant:
    12 inches-3 feet
    NC Region:
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    White
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Raceme
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Flower Shape:
    Tubular
    Flower Petals:
    4-5 petals/rays
    Flower Size:
    1-3 inches
    Flower Description:
    1-2 inch spidery blooms in racemes of 8-10 flowers have long recurved spurs. Bloom time is April-May.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Broadleaf Evergreen
    Deciduous
    Semi-evergreen
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Red/Burgundy
    Leaf Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Gold/Yellow
    Red/Burgundy
    Leaf Type:
    Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
    Leaf Shape:
    Ovate
    Leaf Margin:
    Serrate
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    3-6 inches
    Leaf Width:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Description:
    It has both basal and cauline, compound, medium green leaves with pointed, heart-shaped leaflets on wiry stems are red tinged in spring, green in summer and yellow, red, or bronze in fall. 2-4 inches long with spiny margins.
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Green
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Description:
    Wiry green stems held above the foliage
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Naturalized Area
    Small Space
    Walkways
    Woodland
    Landscape Theme:
    Rock Garden
    Shade Garden
    Winter Garden
    Design Feature:
    Border
    Mass Planting
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Deer
    Drought
    Dry Soil
    Erosion
    Heavy Shade