• Photo of Epimedium x rubrum (Epimedium x rubrums)

Plant Profile: Epimedium x rubrum

Names

Red Barrenwort, Red Epimedium

  • Photo of Epimedium x rubrum (Epimedium x rubrums)

Phonetic Spelling:ep-ih-MEE-dee-um BY ROO-brum

Genus:Epimedium

Species:

Family:Berberidaceae

Red Barrenwort is a European ground cover known for its rapid spread, outpacing many other epimedium varieties without becoming invasive. Its striking foliage features heart-shaped leaves that exhibit a reddish hue during both spring and autumn. In spring, clusters of flowers bloom, showcasing creamy white petals framed by red sepals. This plant thrives in light to full shade and prefers soil that is well-drained, ranging from average to organically rich, and can tolerate conditions from moist to dry. Once established, it is drought-resistant. To maintain its appearance, prune the old leaves in late winter.

This versatile plant is ideal for use in shaded borders, pathways, woodland areas, beneath trees, or in rock gardens.

It is important to note that this plant is an artificial hybrid.

Epimedium x rubrum Feature Summary

Epimedium x rubrum Image Gallery

Tags

#showy flowers
#fall color
#drought tolerant
#red flowers
#shade tolerant
#showy leaves
#spring flowers
#rabbit resistant
#deer resistant
#cream flowers
#groundcover
#rock gardens
#borders
#woodlands

Similar Plants

Epimedium x rubrum Feature Summary

Attributes
Flowers
Stalks of bright crimson and creamy white flowers are borne in pendulous racemes in spring. Red sepals surrounding the creamy petals.
White
Red/Burgundy
Cream/Tan
4-5 petals/rays
< 1 inch
Leaves
3-inch long compound, medium green leaves with pointed, heart-shaped leaflets on wiry stems. New growth has reddish tinge and fall color is reddish. Forms an attractive mound.
Deciduous
Semi-evergreen
Green
Gold/Yellow
Red/Burgundy
Pink
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Ovate
Cordate
1-3 inches
1-3 inches
Whole Plant Traits
Cultural Conditions
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Acid (<6.0)
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasionally Dry
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
5b
5a
6a
6b
7a
7b
8b
8a
9a
9b
Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky
Stem
Green
Red/Burgundy
Pink
Landscape
Drought Tolerant Garden
Rock Garden
Drought
Deer
Rabbits
Walkways
Woodland

Epimedium x rubrum Attributes

Epimedium x rubrum: Country Or Region Of Origin

Europe

Epimedium x rubrum: Wildlife Value

Deer and rabbit resistant

Epimedium x rubrum: Life Cycle

Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody

Epimedium x rubrum: Recommended Propagation Strategy

Division
Grafting
Layering
Leaf Cutting
Root Cutting
Seed
Stem Cutting

Epimedium x rubrum Flowers

Epimedium x rubrum: Flower Description

Stalks of bright crimson and creamy white flowers are borne in pendulous racemes in spring. Red sepals surrounding the creamy petals.

Epimedium x rubrum: Flower Color

filter_vintage
Cream/Tan
filter_vintage
Red/Burgundy
filter_vintage
White

Epimedium x rubrum: Flower Inflorescence

Catkin
Corymb
Cyme
Head
Insignificant
Panicle
Raceme
Solitary
Spadix
Spike
Umbel

Epimedium x rubrum: Flower Value To Gardener

Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long Bloom Season
Long-lasting
Showy

Epimedium x rubrum: Flower Bloom Time

Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall

Epimedium x rubrum: Flower Petals

2-3 rays/petals
4-5 petals/rays
6 petals/rays
7 - 20 petals/rays
asymmetrical petals
Bracts
Colored Sepals
fused petals
more than 20 petals/rays
Tepals

Epimedium x rubrum: Flower Shape

Bell
Cross
Crown
Cup
Dome
Funnel
Irregular
Lipped
Radial
Saucer
Star
Trumpet
Tubular
Urn
Wheel

Epimedium x rubrum: Flower Size

1-3 inches
3-6 inches
< 1 inch
> 6 inches

Epimedium x rubrum Leaves

Epimedium x rubrum: Leaf Description

3-inch long compound, medium green leaves with pointed, heart-shaped leaflets on wiry stems. New growth has reddish tinge and fall color is reddish. Forms an attractive mound.

Epimedium x rubrum: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Epimedium x rubrum: Leaf Color

spa
Gold/Yellow
spa
Green
spa
Pink
spa
Red/Burgundy

Epimedium x rubrum: Deciduous Leaf Fall Color

spa
Red/Burgundy

Epimedium x rubrum: Leaf Type

Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple

Epimedium x rubrum: Leaf Shape

Acicular
Auriculate
Cordate
Cuneate
Deltoid
Elliptical
Filiform
Lanceolate
Linear
Oblanceolate
Oblong
Obovate
Obtuse
Orbicular
Ovate
Palmasect
Palmatifid
Peltate
Pinnatifid
Pinnatisect
Reniform
Rhomboidal
Spatulate
Subcordate
Subulate

Epimedium x rubrum: Leaf Margin

Crenate
Crenulate
Dentate
Denticulate
Doubly Crenate
Doubly Dentate
Doubly Serrate
Entire
Lobed
Serrate
Sinuate
Undulate

Epimedium x rubrum: Hairs Present

No
Yes

Epimedium x rubrum: Leaf Length

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches

Epimedium x rubrum: Leaf Value To Gardener

Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long-lasting
Showy

Epimedium x rubrum: Leaf Width

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches

Epimedium x rubrum Whole Plant Traits

Epimedium x rubrum: Plant Type

Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower

Epimedium x rubrum: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Epimedium x rubrum: Habit/Form

Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping

Epimedium x rubrum: Growth Rate

Slow
Medium
Rapid

Epimedium x rubrum: Maintenance

Low
Medium
High

Epimedium x rubrum Cultural Conditions

Epimedium x rubrum: Light

Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

Epimedium x rubrum: Soil pH

Acid (<6.0)
Alkaline (>8.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)

Epimedium x rubrum: Soil Drainage

Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry

Epimedium x rubrum: Available Space To Plant

12 inches-3 feet
12-24 feet
24-60 feet
3 feet-6 feet
6-feet-12 feet
Less than 12 inches
more than 60 feet

Epimedium x rubrum: NC Region

Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont

Epimedium x rubrum: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

thermostat
5a
thermostat
5b
thermostat
6a
thermostat
6b
thermostat
7a
thermostat
7b
thermostat
8a
thermostat
8b
thermostat
9a
thermostat
9b

Epimedium x rubrum: Soil Texture

Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky

Epimedium x rubrum Stem

Epimedium x rubrum: Stem Color

grass
Green
grass
Pink
grass
Red/Burgundy

Epimedium x rubrum: Stem Is Aromatic

No
Yes

Epimedium x rubrum Landscape

Epimedium x rubrum: Landscape Theme

Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden

Epimedium x rubrum: Design Feature

Accent
Barrier
Border
Flowering Tree
Foundation Planting
Hedge
Mass Planting
Screen/Privacy
Security
Shade Tree
Small groups
Small Tree
Specimen
Street Tree
Understory Tree

Epimedium x rubrum: Resistance To Challenges

Black Walnut
Compaction
Deer
Diseases
Drought
Dry Soil
Erosion
Fire
Foot Traffic
Heat
Heavy Shade
Humidity
Insect Pests
Pollution
Poor Soil
Rabbits
Salt
Slugs
Squirrels
Storm damage
Urban Conditions
Voles
Wet Soil
Wind

Epimedium x rubrum: Landscape Location

Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland