Bicolor barrenwort is a hybrid herbaceous perennial in the Berberidaceae family. The specific epithet comes from the various colored flowers that the plant produces. Bicolor barrenwort is a shade-tolerant ground cover that forms attractive clumps of heart-shaped leaves that are reddish in spring, green in summer and reddish in fall. Growth is up to 1 foot tall with a 1-1.5-foot spread. This variety of Epimedium spreads quicker than others. Preference is for light to moderate shade in average to organically enriched, medium moist, well-drained soil. It is drought tolerant once established and spreads by rhizomes. The bright yellow flowers appear in clusters in mid to late spring. Use this plant in shady woodland gardens, rock gardens, along walkways, shady borders or under trees and bushes. Shear foliage in late winter before flowers appear. Locations with more temperate winter temperatures can grow this plant as an evergreen or semi-evergreen. Propagation can be accomplished by division after flowering. Routine maintenance can include cutting to the ground in the later part of the winter. This will produce the optimum display of flowers in the spring. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems. Aphids can transmit mosaic virus. Protection from cold and/or dry winds is suggested.
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 rubrumEpimedium 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; Loam (Silt); Sand; Shallow Rocky
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | 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: 0 ft. 1 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (1-3 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Clumping
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Deciduous; Semi-evergreen
Leaf color
Green; Red/Burgundy
Leaf type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Leaf shape
Cordate; Ovate
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf value
Showy
Leaf size
1-3 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
3 inch long heart-shaped leaflets on wiry stems. Leaves are reddish in spring and again in fall, green in the summer. The plant forms attractive clumps.
Fall color
Red/Burgundy
Flower color
Gold/Yellow
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Raceme
Flower shape
Tubular
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Clusters of 1-inch flowers with bright yellow petals with short spurs and pale yellow sepals.