Northwest Blooms · Groundcovers
Epimedium x cantabrigiense 'Red Form'
Cambridge Barrenwort
- Family
- Berberidaceae
- Height
- 12 to 18 in
- Width
- 24 to 30 in
- Flower color
- Mottled red with contrasting pale inner sepals
- Foliage color
- Medium green with reddish to bronze new growth, often developing red tones in cooler weather
- Bloom time
- Mid to late spring
- Light
- Partial shade to full shade
- Water
- Moderate
- Maintenance
- Low; shear old foliage to the ground in late winter before new growth emerges
- Growing zone
- USDA zones 5 to 9
- Wildlife
- Bees, early-season pollinators
About this plant
Epimedium × cantabrigiense 'Red Form' bears airy clusters of nodding flowers with softly layered coloration. The outer sepals are mottled rose red and white, forming star-shaped outlines around smaller inner petals that appear creamy yellow to pale ivory. Slender stems rise above heart-shaped foliage that emerges with bronze tones before maturing to fresh green.
Blooming in mid to late spring, this hybrid originated from European garden selections. It works beautifully in woodland borders, shaded slopes, and beneath trees or shrubs, where the delicate flowers hover above the foliage and provide light texture and subtle color during the spring season.
Works well in
Woodland Gardens · Under Trees · Borders · Pollinator Gardens
Companion plants
Hostas · Solomon's seal · Lungworts · Wild gingers · Coral bells · Lily of the valley
Design tip
Echo this plant throughout shaded beds to establish rhythm and guide the eye naturally through the landscape. Combine broad, rounded leaves with upright and finely textured companions to create balanced layers that remain visually appealing beyond the spring bloom season.
Where to see it
This plant can be seen at the Bellevue Botanical Garden.
