Epimedium × versicolor
Yellow barrenwort (Epimedium × versicolor) is a ground cover plant that reaches 30 cm × 45 cm after ten years. Light: part shade, shade. Hardy down to -29 °C. Drought tolerance: medium. Sold in local shops from about €8.90.
Yellow barrenwort (usually sold as 'Sulphureum') is one of the toughest ground covers for shade: sulphur-yellow flower sprays in spring and heart-shaped leaves flushed reddish bronze when they emerge and again in autumn. Under trees and shrubs, even in dry shade, it steadily knits into a weed-suppressing carpet. Cut the old leaves away in late winter so the flowers and fresh growth show.
| Group | Ground cover |
| Light | Part shade, Shade |
| Size after 10 years | 30 cm × 45 cm |
| Ultimate size | 20–40 cm × 25–45 cm |
| Hardiness | down to -29 °C (USDA 4, RHS H7) |
| Soil | Average garden soil, Clay, Sandy, Acidic |
| Foliage | Semi-evergreen |
| Flowering | April–May, yellow |
| Water need | Medium |
| Drought tolerance | Medium |
| Maintenance | Low |
| Root aggressiveness | Low |
| Suckering | no data |
| Spreading | Medium |
| Distance from buildings | no data |
| Distance from paving | no data |
| Litter | not typical |
| Planting distance | 30 cm |
| For dogs | Non-toxic (uncertain) |
| For cats | Non-toxic (uncertain) |
| For children | Non-toxic (uncertain) |
| Typical price | from about €8.90 |
Toxicity data is for information only. If your pet or child has eaten a plant, contact a vet or a doctor.
The same plant is sold as a small pot and as a specimen several metres tall, and the price follows. Prices are rounded and for guidance only.
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Size
|
Typical price
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|---|---|
| size not stated | approx. €8.90 |
Data updated: October 8, 2026 · How our data is made
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