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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.

More information on Epimedium.

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Sweetheart'
    Leaves outlined in red
'Sweetheart'
Tags:
#showy flowers#deciduous#drought tolerant#semi-evergreen#red flowers#shade garden#showy leaves#spring flowers#fall interest#rabbit resistant#erosion control#edging#herbaceous#deer resistant#cream flowers#herbaceous perennial#groundcover#rock garden#border planting#rocky soils tolerant#dry soils tolerant#groundcovers that can be mowed#shallow soil tolerant#heavy shade tolerant#perennial#shade perennial#xeric#shade#long lived#woodland
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Sweetheart'
    Leaves outlined in red
'Sweetheart'
Tags:
#showy flowers#deciduous#drought tolerant#semi-evergreen#red flowers#shade garden#showy leaves#spring flowers#fall interest#rabbit resistant#erosion control#edging#herbaceous#deer resistant#cream flowers#herbaceous perennial#groundcover#rock garden#border planting#rocky soils tolerant#dry soils tolerant#groundcovers that can be mowed#shallow soil tolerant#heavy shade tolerant#perennial#shade perennial#xeric#shade#long lived#woodland
  • 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.
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Green
    Pink
    Red/Burgundy
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Description:
    Wiry green stems
  • 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