Barrenwort Epimedium 'Golden Eagle'
ABOUT
Epimedium 'Golden Eagle' is a captivating plant known for its ornamental qualities, featuring a distinctive combination of foliage and flowers. The leaves of this variety have a heart-shaped form with a spiny appearance similar to that of holly. During the spring, new foliage emerges with a bronze tint, creating a warm and inviting impression in the garden. The flowers of Epimedium 'Golden Eagle' are particularly striking. They dangle in clusters on wiry stems, well above the foliage, and possess an exquisite golden-yellow color that resembles small, fairy-like lanterns. The blossoms have a unique, complex shape with a central cup surrounded by long, spurred petals that give them an almost spider-like appearance. This delightful display of flowers usually occurs in the spring, creating a soft but eye-catching cloud of gold above the contrasting leaves. As the season progresses, the foliage matures to a lush green, providing a dense ground cover that retains visual interest even after the blooms have faded. The evergreen nature of Epimedium 'Golden Eagle' ensures that it contributes color and texture to the garden for the majority of the year. Overall, Epimedium 'Golden Eagle' presents a harmonious blend of elegant leaves and charming golden blooms that make it a highly treasured plant for gardeners seeking to create a tapestry of color and form in their shaded garden spaces.
About this plant
NamesFamily
Berberidaceae
Synonyms
Barrenwort, Bishop's Hat, Fairy Wings, Horny Goat Weed
Common names
Epimedium × versicolor 'Golden Eagle'.
ToxicityTo humans
Bishop's hat is generally considered non-toxic to humans and does not typically pose a threat if ingested. There are no well-documented cases of poisoning from consuming Bishop's hat, and it is often grown as an ornamental garden plant without concern for human safety. However, as with any plant, individual allergies and reactions can occur, so it is advisable to exercise caution and avoid ingesting plants that are not intended for human consumption.
To pets
Bishop's hat is also not known to be toxic to pets. It is not listed among the plants commonly recognized as poisonous to animals such as dogs and cats. Therefore, if a pet were to ingest this plant, it is unlikely to suffer from significant toxic effects. However, ingestion of any plant material can potentially cause mild gastrointestinal upset in some pets, such as vomiting or diarrhea, so it is still wise to prevent pets from eating ornamental plants as a precaution.
CharacteristicsLife cycle
Perennials
Foliage type
Semi-deciduous
Color of leaves
Mixed
Flower color
Yellow
Height
1 foot 12 inches [30-60 cm]
Spread
1 foot 12 inches [30-60 cm]
Plant type
Herb
Hardiness zones
5
Native area
China
Benefits
General Benefits- Easy to Grow: Epimedium 'Golden Eagle', or Bishop's Hat, is known for being a hardy plant that's easy to maintain, making it a great choice for gardeners of all levels.
- Drought Tolerant: Once established, this plant is quite drought-tolerant, making it suitable for gardens in drier climates.
- Shade Lover: Preferring partial to full shade, Bishop's Hat is an excellent groundcover for shaded gardens where other plants may struggle.
- Deer Resistant: Its leaves are unpalatable to deer, which makes it an ideal choice for gardens in areas with high deer populations.
- Spring Blooms: The plant produces attractive, bright yellow flowers in the spring, adding a splash of color to the garden when other plants are not yet in bloom.
- Ground Cover: With its spreading habit, Bishop's Hat works well as ground cover, filling in spaces and suppressing weeds.
- Seasonal Interest: Epimedium 'Golden Eagle' offers visual interest throughout the growing season with its evergreen or semi-evergreen foliage, depending on the climate.
- Texture in Landscaping: Its leaves have a distinctive texture and shape that can contrast well with other plants in a garden composition.
Medical PropertiesThis plant is not used for medical purposes.
Air-purifying QualitiesThis plant is not specifically known for air purifying qualities.
Other Uses- Ground Cover: Epimedium 'Golden Eagle', or Bishop's Hat, can provide a dense mat that suppresses weeds, making it a valuable landscaping choice for difficult areas under trees or shrubs where other plants struggle to grow.
- Urban Spaces: The hardy nature of Bishop's Hat allows it to thrive in urban gardens, providing greenery and color where ground space is limited and air quality might inhibit other less tolerant plants.
- Erosion Control: Its dense root system makes it an effective plant for stabilizing soil on slopes and preventing erosion.
- Drought Resistance: Once established, Bishop's Hat is drought-tolerant, making it an excellent option for water-wise gardens or xeriscaping.
- Seasonal Interest: With its attractive foliage that changes color in fall, it grants seasonal interest to the garden, offering aesthetic value throughout the year.
- Fauna Support: The flowers of Bishop's Hat provide nectar early in the season, supporting pollinators such as bees when not much else is in bloom.
- Leaf Litter Habitat: The fallen leaves of Bishop's Hat can create a natural mulch and habitat for beneficial insects and small wildlife, enhancing biodiversity.
- Living Mulch: When planted densely, it acts as a living mulch, keeping the soil moist and cool, reducing the need for additional mulching materials.
- Visual Barrier: It can be planted to form a low visual barrier in the garden, separating different areas or concealing less attractive elements like utilities or compost bins.
- Container Gardening: Bishop's Hat can be grown in containers for patios or balconies, adding a touch of nature to small outdoor living areas.
Interesting Facts
Feng ShuiThe plant Epimedium, commonly known as Horny Goat Weed, is not typically associated with Feng Shui practice.
Zodiac Sign CompitabilityHorny Goat Weed is not used in astrology practice.
Plant Symbolism- Sensual Pleasure: Epimedium, commonly known as Horny Goat Weed, is often associated with enhancing sexual function and libido, symbolizing sensual pleasure and fertility.
- Restorative Power: Due to its medicinal properties, especially in traditional Chinese medicine, Horny Goat Weed symbolizes healing and the restoration of vitality.
- Adaptability: As a plant that can thrive in difficult conditions, it often represents the ability to adapt and prosper in challenging environments.
- Youthful Energy: The rejuvenating effects attributed to Horny Goat Weed also make it a symbol for youthfulness and renewed energy.
WaterBishop's Hat, commonly known as 'Golden Eagle', requires consistent moisture particularly when establishing or during dry spells, but it's important not to overwater. Generally, watering once a week with approximately 1 gallon per plant should suffice, ensuring the water penetrates deep into the root zone. During extremely hot periods, you may need to increase watering frequency while in cooler, wetter periods, you can reduce it. Well-drained soil is essential to prevent root rot, so make sure the soil isn't waterlogged after watering.
LightBishop's Hat thrives best in partial to full shade, making it an excellent choice for a shaded garden spot or under deciduous trees that provide dappled sunlight. Direct afternoon sunlight should be avoided as it can scorch the delicate leaves.
TemperatureBishop's Hat does well in a wide range of temperatures, but it prefers temperate conditions. Ideally, it should be grown in areas where the temperature remains between 50°F and 75°F. However, this hardy perennial can survive winter lows down to 10°F, but it is best to avoid extreme temperature fluctuations.
PruningPruning of Bishop's Hat is typically done to remove dead or damaged foliage and to maintain plant vigor. The best time to prune is in late winter or early spring before new growth starts. Cutting back the old foliage allows for a cleaner display of flowers and new spring growth. Prune annually to keep the plant looking tidy.
CleaningAs needed
SoilThe best soil mix for the Bishop's Hat 'Golden Eagle' should be well-draining, humus-rich, and maintain a pH between 6.0 and 7.5. A blend of garden soil, peat moss, and perlite or pine bark can achieve good results, providing aeration while retaining moisture.
RepottingThe Bishop's Hat 'Golden Eagle' should be repotted every 2 to 3 years. Older clumps can be divided during repotting if they become too crowded, which also encourages more vigorous growth.
Humidity & MistingThe Bishop's Hat 'Golden Eagle' prefers moderate to high humidity levels but is adaptable and can tolerate a range of humidity conditions commonly found in home environments.
Suitable locationsIndoor
Place in bright, indirect light with well-draining soil.
Outdoor
Partial shade to full shade, with shelter from extreme elements.
Hardiness zone
5-9 USDA
Life cycleEpimedium 'Golden Eagle', commonly known as Golden Eagle barrenwort, starts its life cycle when seeds germinate in early spring, developing roots and foliage. As a perennial plant, it grows and develops a dense clump of heart-shaped leaves. In spring, flower stalks emerge bearing clusters of yellow flowers with spurs. After flowering, the plant focuses on leaf growth, with the foliage sometimes changing color in the fall. The plant goes dormant in winter, retreating to the underground rhizome as temperatures drop. The cycle resumes in spring with new growth from the rhizomes, using stored energy to kickstart a new round of foliage and flowering.
PropogationPropogation time
Spring-Early Summer
The most popular method of propagating Epimedium 'Golden Eagle', commonly known as Barrenwort, is by division. This is typically done in late summer to early fall, after the flowering period has ended, or in early spring as new growth begins. To propagate by division, carefully dig up an established clump of Barrenwort, ensuring that you maintain a good root ball. Cut or pull apart the crowns to separate the plant into smaller sections, each with several growth points and a portion of the roots. Replant these divisions at the same depth they were previously growing, spacing them about 12 to 18 inches (30 to 45 centimeters) apart to allow for spread. Water the new plantings thoroughly to help establish them. This method is particularly effective because Epimediums have a rhizomatous root system that easily regenerates from divided sections.
