Native to mountain woodlands of northern Africa, this evergreen herbaceous perennial is a member of the barberry family, Berberidaceae, that also includes nandina, mahonia, and twinleaf. It grows up to 12″ high and spreads by rhizomes to produce a clump up to 18″ wide. The compound leaves are carried on wiry stems and have three glossy oval leaflets up to 3″ long and with spiny margins. The leaftlets are tinted bronze when young but turn green with age. In spring up to 25 yellow flowers appear in clusters just above the foliage. The flowers are up to 3/4″ across and have short bronze spurs. Plants are drought tolerant once established and do well in the shade as ground covers, edgers, and in rock and woodland gardens. The genus name, Epimedium, is the Greek name for a plant unrelated to this genus. The specific epithet, perralderianum, honors French naturalist Henri Rene le Tourneux de la Perraudiere (1831-1861) who collected plants in the Canary Islands and North Africa. Other common names include barrenwort, bishop’s mitre and fairy wings.
Type: Evergreen herbaceous perennial
Bloom: Cluster of up to 25 yellow 3/4″ wide flowers in spring
Size: 6-12″ H x 8-18″ W
Light: Part to full shade
Soil: Average, dry to medium moist, well-drained
Hardiness: Zones 5-9
Care: Cut back old foliage in late winter or early spring
Pests and Diseases: Vine weevil, virus
Propagation: Division from early spring to late summer
Companion Plants: Vancouveria hexandra, Mahonia nervosa, Iris foetidissima, Smilacina racemosa
Photo Credit: Wikipedia
Karen Meyers