Epimedium grandiflorum 'White Queen'
barrenwort
Garden origin; species native to Japan, Korea, and northeastern China
Overview
Epimedium grandiflorum 'White Queen' is a deciduous perennial forming a mound 8-12 inches (20-30 cm) tall and 12-18 inches (30-45 cm) wide. Compared with the species, this cultivar bears larger, pure white flowers up to 1.5-2 inches (4-5 cm) across, each with four long, slender spurs giving a spider-like outline. Flowers open in mid-spring on wiry stems held just above or among the emerging leaves. Leaves are divided into heart-shaped leaflets 1.5-3 inches (4-8 cm) long with spine-toothed margins; new growth emerges flushed red-bronze and matures to green before dying back after frost. Bloom lasts 3-4 weeks. The flowering stems are short, so the blooms can be partly obscured by foliage if old leaves are not removed. Clumps spread slowly by rhizomes, reaching mature size in 3-4 years and forming groundcover over time.
Native Range
A cultivar of Epimedium grandiflorum, a species native to Japan, Korea, and northeastern China, where it grows in woodland and on shaded slopes. The cultivar arose in cultivation.Suggested Uses
Grown in woodland gardens and shaded borders as a spring-flowering groundcover, spaced 12-15 inches (30-38 cm) apart. Combines with hostas, ferns, and early bulbs. Suited to the front of shade plantings and to containers of at least 2 gallons (8 L).How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height8" - 1'
Width/Spread1' - 1'6"
Bloom Information
Blooms in mid-spring, typically April to May, for about 3-4 weeks. Flowers appear with the emerging foliage. In warm regions bloom finishes earlier and faster.
Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
Green, red-bronze when youngGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Tolerates up to 4 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Grows in partial to full shade in humus-rich, moist but well-drained soil. Watering during establishment helps; once rooted, plants tolerate short dry spells but are less drought-tolerant than evergreen Epimedium spp. hybrids. An autumn leaf-mould mulch maintains organic matter and moisture. Cutting last year's foliage to the ground in late winter reveals the spring flowers. Vine weevil is the pest most often reported. Plants are cold-hardy to zone 5, tolerating winter lows near -20F (-29C).Pruning
Cut old foliage to the ground in late winter before flower stems emerge. No other pruning is required. Spent flower stems can be removed after bloom, though they are not persistent.Pruning Schedule
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
winter
Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 2 gallons