Epimedium × rubrum 'Sweetheart'

RHS Plant Profile

red barrenwort 'Sweetheart'

Herbaceous Perennial

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A semi-evergreen perennial to 30cm tall with heart-shaped to rounded leaves that emerge heavily-flushed and edged with red in spring, maturing to green and often turning reddish-green in autumn and winter. Loose sprays of flowers are borne on upright stems in spring and comprise pinkish-red outer petals surrounding creamy-yellow inner petals

Position

Full shade, Partial shade

Soil Types

Loam, Sand, Clay

Max Height

0.1-0.5 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 2–5 years
Max Spread: 0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height: 0.1-0.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Loam Sand Clay

Moisture: Moist but well–drained
pH: Acid or Neutral

Position

Full shade Partial shade

Aspect: North–facing or West–facing or East–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): H6

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

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: Accepted

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in fertile, moist but well-drained, humus-rich soil in full or partial shade; shelter from cold, drying winds

Propagation

Propagate by division

Suggested planting locations and garden types

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

Pruning

Cut back old foliage in late winter before new flower stems emerge for the best display of new foliage and flowers

Pests

May be susceptible to vine weevils, slugs and snails

Diseases

May be susceptible to a virus