The Gardens

Epimedium / Barrenwort (Bishop's Hat)

'Rubrum May 2, 2011
Epimedium
perralchicum 'Frohnleiten'  
alpinum 'Rubrum'

Epimediums are very slow to get going, but when they do establish, they can cover an extensive area.  They are good in dry shade under trees, described as "tough and showy".

I planted several 'Frohnleiten' beneath the dogwood in front, then added more the next year, but they took forever to fill in, just single clumps in the mulch after three years. Finally, in 2011 they really started to spread, clump up and bloom beautifully.

The foliage is a clean green all summer, but comes in with rusty red tinges.

I planted a dozen 'Rubrum' around the base of the maple in the back garden, and they were also just clumps in the mulch the first two years, and are just starting to spread in 2011.

They have a nice wine red tinge to the foliage.

Divide clumps in fall or winter; newly divided plants take two seasons to settle in and don’t begin to spread again until the third year.

May 2, 2011 'Frohnleiten'

April 21, 2012

In fall and early winter they are just spectacular, with shimmery foliage that flutters at ground level.
12/11/12

'Rubrum' has interesting magenta and white flowers, but you need to be up close to see them in late April.
4/25/13 

By mid June the 'Rubrum' barrenworts are a nice mound of medium green foliage.
6/15/13 'Rubrum' after flowering

5/4/13 'Frohnleiten'

The foliage of 'Frohnleiten' is reddish and mottled, although by midsummer it is greener. Then it becomes shimmery in fall, staying green well into winter, when it bronzes, then browns.

5/4/14

The patch of 'Rubrum' has clean fresh green foliage and a nice mounding effect in front of the pink blooming spirea.
6/22/15

The foliage stays nice all summer and into winter, and 'Rubrum' looked lovely with a bit of frost in December.
12/6/15

The frosted foliage of 'Frohnleitun' looked beautiful even in December.
12/6/15

This patch under the dogwood is right at the corner of the garage and driveway, and there is something about the location that draws my eye every time we back up the car to leave the driveway. The foliage is highlighted at just the right angle as the car backs out and I always see the fluttery leaves lit by the sun.
12/6/15