Epimedium — 12 species

Epimedium (barrenwort or fairy wings) is a tough, slowly spreading ground cover for shade gardens, bearing delicate spurred flowers in spring above attractive heart-shaped leaves. Cultivars such as 'Rubrum' and 'Sulphureum' excel beneath trees and competing roots where little else survives. It tolerates partial to full shade and becomes notably drought-tolerant once established, needing water mainly during the first season and dry spells. All Epimedium species are toxic to cats and dogs.