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Epimedium x 'Rigoletto'

Barrenwort

Plant Type:

SHADE PERENNIALS

Epimedium x 'Rigoletto' - The four spurs on each of the numerous flowers are a deep dark red-purple with contrasting daffodil yellow-edged cup supported on wiry stems growing to one foot. Like aerialists, the little spiders dangle and dance in spring breezes above a safety net of dark green leaves. Clumping. Named by the folks at Fairweather Gardens for the protagonist in Verdi's opera, Rigoletto. Established pot grown plant from division.


Height:

8-12 in

Colors:

Red Violet

Zone:

4 to 8
What is my hardiness zone?

Characteristics and Attributes for Epimedium x 'Rigoletto'

Season of Interest (Flowering)

  • Spring

Season of Interest (Foliage)

  • Spring / Summer / into Autumn

Nature Attraction

  • Deer Resistant

Light

  • Morning Sun / Afternoon Shade
  • Shade
  • Dappled Shade

Attributes

  • Border
  • Drought Tolerant
  • Woodland
  • Rock Garden
  • Ground Cover

Growth Rate in the Garden

  • Slow

Soil

  • Fertile
  • Woodland
  • Draining

Origins

  • Garden Origin

Propagated By

  • Division

Genus Overview: Epimedium

The Barrenworts have received much attention in recent years and deservedly so. They come in many differently-colored flowering forms sporting delicate, dangling spider-like blossoms in spring. Some, as in E. sempervirens, are virtually evergreen; many others deciduous with delicate kidney-shaped leaves on wiry stems. The foliage on many cultivars in our USDA zone 5b (-15F) remains handsome until the winter solstice supplying 2 to 3 seasons of interest, some even provide golden to purple-bronze autumn tones. Slowly, gradually, they form a ground cover in part to full, open shade in fertile soil. The Barrenworts or Bishop Hats exhibit fair drought tolerance and are well-behaved members in part to open shade. They work well in herbaceous borders, woodland gardens or down-facing shrubs. Epimediums are members of the Berberidaceae and are of Asian origin. Once established they exhibit fair tolerance to dry shade. All of the following are pot-grown divisions from our plants.