Epimedium × rubrum
Bishops caps, red epimedium, red barrenwort, bishop’s caps
Kingdom Plantae Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
Subkingdom Tracheobionta Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
Division Magnoliophyta Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms
Class Magnoliopsida Dicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves
Subclass Magnoliidae Includes magnolias, nutmeg, bay laurel, cinnamon, avocado, black pepper, and many others
Order Ranunculales Basal (evolved earlier) eudicots, also called “true dicots”
Family Berberidaceae Barberry family
Genus Epimedium
Species rubrum From the Latin ruber or rubra meaning “red”
About plant names...
This is a cultivar, introduced (apparently) for better winter tolerance. They are popular as
ground covers in shaded areas of gardens, but they are not found in the wild. "Bishops’ caps"
refers to the dainty flowers, which resemble a bishop’s mitre (though I don't see much of a
resemblance).
Identification: Rubrum comes from the red-tinted, heart-shaped
leaves. Leaves are 1-1½″ (2.5-3.8 cm) long, with serrated edges. Bishop's caps are 8-13″ (20-33 cm) in height, and about 1′ (30 cm) around. Flowers are copious,
each about ¼″ (6.3 mm) around, with four white pink-edged petals.
Online References:
in Paghat's Garden
Picsearch (Epimedium)
The Missouri Botanical Garden
Plants.ces.ncsu.edu
7/29/2023 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Massachusetts
5/12/2007 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Massachusetts
4/29/2017 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Massachusetts · ≈ 4½ × 3″ (11 × 7.9 cm)
5/12/2007 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Massachusetts
7/29/2023 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Massachusetts
4/29/2017 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Massachusetts · ≈ 4 × 2½″ (10 × 7.1 cm)
Older scientific or horticultural names
Epimedium × rubrum description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 15 Jul 2020.
© FloraFinder.org. All rights reserved.
5/12/2007 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Massachusetts
4/28/2010 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Massachusetts · ≈ 15 × 10″ (39 × 26 cm)
5/12/2007 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Massachusetts
5/12/2007 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Massachusetts
5/12/2007 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Massachusetts
Redder leaves in clusters of three are sometimes raised above the other leaves. · 6/14/2010 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Massachusetts
5/8/2007 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Massachusetts
Range: Zones 5-9:
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