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Herbaceous Perennial

Epimedium franchetii

Franchet's barrenwort

A clump-forming semi-evergreen perennial, to around 40cm high, with leaves divided into three narrowly heart-shaped green leaflets, with spiny edges and long pointed tips. Leaves emerge pink-tinted in spring, along with sprays of small, spidery yellow flowers, borne on wiry stems above the leaves

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Ultimate height

0.1–0.5 metres

Time to ultimate height

2–5 years

Ultimate spread

0.1–0.5 metres

Clay

Loam

Moisture

Moist but well–drained

pH

Acid, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full shade
Partial shade

Aspect

East–facing or North–facing or West–facing

Exposure

Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Berberidaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Semi evergreen
Habit: Clump forming
Genus: Epimedium are rhizomatous perennials with evergreen or deciduous, ternately or pinnately divided leaves, and open sprays of small, bowl-shaped flowers, often with prominent spurs, in mid to late spring
Name status: Correct
Plant range: China (Hubei, Guizhou)

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in fertile, humus-rich, moist but well-drained soil, with shelter from cold, drying winds. Thrives in dappled shade but will tolerate full shade. Where frosts are prolonged or severe, spread an organic mulch such as leaf mould or composted bark to protect plants over winter

Propagation

Propagate by seed, by division in autumn or after flowering, or by root cuttings of rhizomes, kept under glass in winter, and planted out after all danger of frost has passed

Suggested planting locations and garden types

City and courtyard gardens
Cottage and informal garden
Patio and container plants
Rock garden
Banks and slopes
Flower borders and beds
Ground cover
Underplanting of roses and shrubs

Pruning

Clip back old leaves in late winter or early spring, before new flower spikes form

Pests

May be susceptible to vine weevil

Diseases

May be susceptible to virus diseases

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