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Care and Culture of a Bishop's Cap

Epimedium

November 3, 1999
The Bishop's Cap (Epimedium sp.) is an excellent choice to plant in any shade garden. The lower growing varieties make a great ground cover and 'coverup' for areas which otherwise might remain barren. These perennials will survive in one of the most difficult situations in the garden; the dry shade beneath a tree. In time, Epimedium will become a sizable clump, but this growth is slow. These plants are hardy in USDA zones 4-8, and range in height from 6 to 20 inches, depending on the cultivar.
The foliage and the flower clusters appear at the ends of separate, wire-like stems.
The heart or lance shaped foliage is attractive the year round. The overlapping 2-3 inch leaves are light green, but in the spring, the new foliage will have a pink to bronze tint. In the fall, the leaves again become edged in bronze. The foliage will remain on the plant all winter, if it is planted in a protected location.
The star shaped, four-petaled flowers dangle in clusters when they appear in mid to late spring. Depending on the cultivar, they may be white, cream, rose, lavender or yellow in color.

Epimediums do their best when they are grown in light to partial shade. They prefer a rich, moist, well-drained soil, supplemented with peat moss and compost, but will produce foliage and flowers for years, even when they are grown in the depleted soil beneath an old tree. They may be damaged by wind and late frosts if they are planted in an unprotected, open area.
Epimediums may be planted in the fall or the spring. Plants should be spaced 10-12 inches apart. They spread by means of creeping underground stems, and will, once established, form a dense mass. In late winter or early spring, before the flowers emerge, remove all winter damaged stems and foliage (even if this means clipping the plant back to ground level.) Feed in early spring, with a good all purpose (10-10-10) fertilizer, or apply a top-dressing of compost.
Epimediums are propagated by division in the spring or fall months. (A sharp spade will be necessary to cut through the tough underground roots.)
They may also be grown from seed, which may be sown indoors at any time, or directly into the garden in the spring or fall.

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