'Sandy Claws' Barrenwort (Epimedium)
Perennial
- An evergreen with spiny red leaves in spring!
- Creamy white flowers bloom above the foliage.
- Perfectly suited for shade and woodland gardens.
- Deer, rabbit, and disease resistant.
- Zones 6-8, part sun/shade, 16″ tall x 24″ wide at maturity.
ZONE
EXPOSURE
HEIGHT
Description
Don't let the name deter you! Barrenwort may sound unsightly, but it's beautiful and hard-working in the landscape. It's easy to grow in dry shade, slopes, and other troublesome sites. Plus, it's unbothered by deer, rabbits, and disease. While it's slow to grow, this perennial will prove that it's well worth the wait.
Details
Common name: Barrenwort, longspur epimedium, bishop's hat, fairy wings, horny goat weed
Zone: 6 - 8
Sun exposure: shade (< 4 hours sun) to part sun (4-6 hours sun)
Height x width: 16″ tall x 24" wide
Flower color: White
Foliage color: Red and green
Season of interest: Spring to fall
Bloom time: Mid spring, late spring
Features: Space savers, rare & unusual, rabbit resistant, heat tolerant, ground covers, fall color, drought tolerant, deer resistant, container plants, best for beginners
Uses: Container, rock garden, slopes, woodland garden, edging, cut flower, ground cover
How to Grow
Light: Part sun (4-6 hrs sun/day) to shade (<4 hours sun)
Water: Average.
Space: 24-36″ apart.
Fertilizing: Apply a garden fertilizer in early spring if desired.
Winterizing: Trim off old foliage in late winter to make room for fresh leaves and promote an increase in flower production.
Maintenance: Divide in early spring or late summer.
Plant spacing is based on the ultimate width of the plants. This figure is normally given as a range; for example, 3-5’. If you live in a cold climate and/or want plants to fill in more quickly, plan to space at the shorter end of the range. If you live in a warm climate, are on a limited budget, or are willing to wait longer for plants to touch, use the higher end of the range. Using the larger number is recommended when calculating distance from a building or structure. There’s really no such thing as "maximum spacing": if you don’t want your plants to touch, you can space them as far apart as you’d like. All plant spacing is calculated on center, or in other words, the centers of the plants are spaced one half of their eventual width apart:
Unless you are planting in a straight line, as you might for hedges or edging, space your plants in a staggered or zig-zag pattern for a more interesting and naturalistic look:
Not sure just how many plants will fit in your garden? Our calculator gives you the exact amount of plants required for your space. Simply update the values and the calculator will re-calculate accordingly. Spacing information can be found in the 'How to Grow' tab on each plant's page.
The plant is very interesting. I already have it in the ground. I did notice that there are small dots all over the leaves. I took a picture of the plant just before planting it. I hope that it's nothing and that it thrives in the spring.
It seems like no one sells epimediums online but YOU (and one other company that sells them for whole lot more). The two I ordered came perfectly packaged and are doing well planted under my big Live Oak tree in Richardson, TX. I plan to buy more. Thanks so much.
Doing well…
Plants arrived healthy abd packaged well. They were bigger than I had anticipated and one even had blooms. I have always had good experiences with this company.
I order 2 Sandy Claw Barrenwort (epimedium) from Great Garden Plants. I have had difficulty finding this plant locally and was glad to find the variety online. I was a little apprehensive that the plants would be smaller than expected and arrive stressed. I was very pleased to see that the plants were healthy, a good size, and in great shape on delivery!
Are the spines prickly? Or are the leaves soft enough that the spines aren’t unpleasant?
No, they are not considered to be prickly at all!
Would this grow under a pin oak tree as well as a Cherokee red dogwood?
Barrenwort needs at least 4 hours of sun a day and well-draining soil. If the areas you're looking at meet those requirements, you should be good to grow!
Do you sell red hydrangeas?
The reddest hydrangeas we offer is Cityline Paris: https://www.greatgardenplants.com/products/cityline-paris-bigleaf-hydrangea.