Red Barrenwort Epimedium x rubrum
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- ep-ih-MEE-dee-um ROO-brum
- Description
-
Red Barrenwort is a ground cover from Europe. It tends to spread faster than most epimediums but is not weedy. The foliage is showy with heart-shaped leaves that have a red tinge in spring and fall. The flowers appear in clusters in spring with creamy white petals surrounded by red sepals. The flowers resemble columbine.
The plant grows to 1 foot tall and can spread to 2.5 feet wide.
It prefers light to full shade, average to organically enriched soil that is moist to dry and well-drained. Drought tolerant once established. Prune old foliage in late winter or early spring before the flush of new foliage. Large areas of this plant can be mowed as a form of maintenance.
Use this plant in shade borders, walkways, woodland settings, under trees, or in rock gardens. It can also be planted in xeriscapes conditions, where the need for watering is reduced or eliminated.
This is an artificial hybrid that is a cross between E. alpinum and E. grandiflorum.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems. Mosaic virus can be transmitted by aphids. Occasionally visited by vine weevils.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Sweetheart'
Leaves outlined in red
- 'Sweetheart'
- 'Sweetheart'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Sweetheart'
Leaves outlined in red
- 'Sweetheart'
- 'Sweetheart'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Epimedium
- Family:
- Berberidaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Makes an excellent ground cover.
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Europe
- Wildlife Value:
- Deer and rabbit resistant
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Colorful
- Easy to Grow
- Shade
- Dimensions:
- Height: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 6 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Ground Cover
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Semi-evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Mounding
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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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
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Raceme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Star
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Stalks of bright crimson flowers are borne in pendulous racemes in spring. Red sepals surround the creamy petals. They can be short-spurred or spurless.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Semi-evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Pink
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Leaf Shape:
- Cordate
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- 3-inch long compound, medium green leaves with pointed, heart-shaped leaflets on wiry stems. New growth has a reddish tinge and fall color is reddish/bronze. Forms an attractive mound.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Pink
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Wiry green stems
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Naturalized Area
- Patio
- Slope/Bank
- Walkways
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Rock Garden
- Shade Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Dry Soil
- Erosion
- Heavy Shade
- Rabbits
