Snowy Barrenwort is used as a ground cover in shady areas. It grows 6-8 inches tall and spreads 1-1.5 feet. The heart-shaped foliage forms attractive clumps and is red-streaked in spring, green in summer and bronze-red for the fall. The pure white flowers appear in clusters on red stems in mid to late spring. The plant spreads by rhizomes. Preference is for moist to dry average to enriched garden soil in part to full shade. It is drought tolerant once it is established. Shear the foliage in late winter before new growth appears. Cutting back will provide the optimum conditions for its flowers and foliage to put on its best spring display. Use this plant in woodland gardens, along shady walkways, under trees or in rock gardens. Differing from other species of epimedium, this plant is not evergreen and its flowers bloom later in the spring. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems. Aphids can spread mosaic virus. Vine weevils are an occasional problem. Protection from cold, dry wind is recommended.
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 sempervirensEpimedium x rubrumEpimedium x versicolor 'Sulphureum'
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 | Moist | Occasionally Dry
Available space
12 inches-3 feet
NC region
Coastal
Mature size
Height: 0 ft. 6 in. - 0 ft. 8 in. | Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
5 - Groundcover (<1 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Clumping
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Deciduous; Semi-evergreen
Leaf color
Green; Red/Burgundy
Leaf type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Leaf arrangement
Opposite
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
The compound, medium green leaves with heart-shaped to triangular-shaped leaflets on wiry stems are red tinge in spring, green in summer, deep red in fall.
Fall color
Red/Burgundy
Flower color
White
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Raceme
Flower shape
Star; Tubular
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Clusters of white flowers with short to no spurs appear in April to May.