Epimedium diphyllum

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Epimedium diphyllum

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Kemper Code: Y870

Common Name: bishop's hat
Zone: 5 to 8
Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
Family: Berberidaceae
Missouri Native: No
Native Range: Japan
Height: 0.5 to 1 foot
Spread: 0.75 to 1 foot
Bloom Time: April Bloom Data
Bloom Color: White
Sun: Part shade to full shade
Water: Dry to medium
Maintenance: Low

Plant Culture and Characteristics

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Uses:		Wildlife:	Flowers:	Leaves:	Fruit:
Hedge	Suitable as annual	Attracts birds	Has showy flowers	Leaves colorful	Has showy fruit
Shade tree	Culinary herb	Attracts	Has fragrant flowers	Leaves fragrant	Fruit edible
Street tree	Vegetable	hummingbirds	Flowers not showy	Good fall color	Other:
Flowering tree	Water garden plant	Attracts	Good cut flower	Evergreen	Winter interest
Gr. cover (<1')	Will naturalize	butterflies	Good dried flower		Thorns or spines

General Culture:

Easily grown in average, dry to medium, well-drained soils in part shade to full shade. Prefers rich, organic soils with even moisture in part shade. Tolerates drought once established. Clumps slowly spread by rhizomes. Evergreen in warm winter climates. In cold winter climates such as St. Louis, cut back what is left of the foliage in late winter.

Noteworthy Characteristics:

This species of epimedium is a low-growing, clump-forming perennial which typically grows 8-10" tall and is primarily used as a ground cover in shady or woodland areas. Small, drooping, bell-shaped, spurless white flowers appear in spring above the foliage. Bifoliate (2 leaflets), medium green leaves with triangular to heart-shaped leaflets (to 2" long) on wiry stems form dense, compact, spreading mounds. Foliage is evergreen in warm winter climates, but typically turns bronzish in fall and depreciates throughout the winter in cold winter climates. Epimediums are commonly called barrenwort or bishop's hat.

Problems:

No serious insect or disease problems.

Uses:

Ground cover for shady areas. Woodland gardens, wild gardens or naturalized areas. Grows well under trees. Also may be used in shady areas of rock gardens and border fronts.