Barrenwort makes dense evergreen ground cover with heart-shaped leaves, bronze markings in spring and autumn, and clusters of yellow spring flowers.
- Height
- 15–31 cm / 0.5–1 ft
- Spread
- 30–46 cm / 1–1.5 ft
- Light
- Shade / Partial shade
- Soil moisture
- Dry / Moist, well-drained
- Flowering
- Spring
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Maintenance
- Low
- USDA zones
- 4a–9b
Planting
Choose partial or full shade and moist, well-drained soil. It works beneath trees, along shaded paths or at the front of a woodland border.
Care
Remove dead leaves before spring flowering. Divide in autumn or after the flowers fade; established plants tolerate periods of drought.
Planting Barrenwort?
Find a landscaper nearby to help with planting and establishment.
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Sources & photo credit
Plant reference: NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. Content checked . Flowering seasons vary with local climate; USDA zones describe winter cold tolerance.
- Barrenwort: Peter coxhead · CC BY-SA 3.0. Resized, converted to WebP and cropped for display.
- Red barrenwort: Peganum · CC BY-SA 2.0. Resized, converted to WebP and cropped for display.
- Bearberry: Walter Siegmund · CC BY-SA 3.0. Resized, converted to WebP and cropped for display.
- Bergenia: Syrio · CC BY-SA 4.0. Resized, converted to WebP and cropped for display.