Northwest Blooms · Groundcovers
Epimedium x versicolor
Bicolor Barrenwort
- Family
- Berberidaceae
- Height
- 10 to 15 in
- Width
- 18 to 24 in
- Flower color
- Soft white-yellow with reddish outer sepals
- Foliage color
- Light green to medium green, often flushed bronze in spring
- Bloom time
- Mid to late spring
- Light
- Partial shade to full shade
- Water
- Moderate moisture, drought tolerant once established
- Maintenance
- Low, cut back old foliage in late winter before new growth emerges
- Growing zone
- USDA zones 5 to 9
- Wildlife
- Bees, early-season pollinators
About this plant
Epimedium × versicolor bears delicate sprays of nodding, bicolored flowers that combine soft yellow inner petals with red-flushed outer sepals. The blooms rise above wiry stems and are paired with heart-shaped foliage that emerges with warm bronze tones before maturing to green, adding visual interest through the season.
Flowering occurs in mid to late spring. This long-cultivated hybrid originated from deliberate crosses between Asian species. It is well suited to woodland gardens, shaded borders, and planting beneath deciduous trees, where its spreading habit creates a refined ground layer and gently links spring bulbs with later-emerging perennials.
Works well in
Woodland Gardens · Under Trees · Borders · Pollinator Gardens
Companion plants
Ferns · Japanese forest grass · Trilliums · Siberian buglosses · Primroses · Foamflowers
Design tip
Layer this groundcover beneath taller woodland perennials to create gradual transitions that add depth without obscuring neighboring plants. Repeat broad drifts at intervals throughout the garden to establish continuity while allowing seasonal focal points to emerge naturally across the landscape.
Where to see it
This plant can be seen at the Bellevue Botanical Garden.
