Red Barrenwort is a ground cover from Europe in the Berberidaceae family. It tends to spread faster than most epimediums but is not weedy. It is a cross between E. alpinum and E. grandiflorum . The genus name is of unclear origin and meaning, but the Greeks used epimedion for a very different plant. The plant grows to 1 foot tall and can spread to 2.5 feet wide. This is an artificial hybrid that is a cross between E. alpinum and E. grandiflorum . 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. 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. 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. 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 .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Fills a similar nicheEpimedium x versicolor 'Sulphureum'Epimedium x youngianum 'Niveum'x Heucherella
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
12 inches-3 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 0 in. | Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 6 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (1-3 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Clumping; Mounding
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Deciduous; Semi-evergreen
Leaf color
Gold/Yellow; Green; Pink; Red/Burgundy
Leaf type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Leaf shape
Cordate; Ovate
Leaf margin
Entire; Serrate
Leaf feel
Glossy
Leaf value
Showy
Leaf size
1-3 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
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.
Fall color
Red/Burgundy
Flower color
Red/Burgundy
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Raceme
Flower shape
Star
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
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.