Amber Queen Barrenwort (Epimedium 'Amber Queen') in Prince George, British Columbia (BC) at Hunniford Gardens

Inspiring Northern Gardeners Since 1985

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Amber Queen Barrenwort

Epimedium 'Amber Queen'

Amber Queen Barrenwort flowers

(Photo courtesy of NetPS Plant Finder)

Amber Queen Barrenwort foliage

(Photo courtesy of NetPS Plant Finder)

Height: 24 inches

Spacing: 18 inches

Sunlight: partial shade full shade

Hardiness Zone: 5

Other Names: Bishop's Hat, Fairy Wings, Longspur Epimedium

Brand: Walters Gardens

Description:

Delicate nodding flowers, reminiscent of columbine, are yellow, with pale yellow spurs and orange-red centers; makes a great shade groundcover; attractive, bright green foliage is tinged with red

Ornamental Features

Amber Queen Barrenwort features delicate nodding yellow star-shaped flowers with orange eyes and buttery yellow spurs rising above the foliage from mid to late spring. Its attractive heart-shaped leaves are green in colour with distinctive brick red edges. As an added bonus, the foliage turns a gorgeous burgundy in the fall.

Landscape Attributes

Amber Queen Barrenwort is a dense herbaceous evergreen perennial with a ground-hugging habit of growth. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other garden plants with less refined foliage.

This plant will require occasional maintenance and upkeep, and is best cleaned up in early spring before it resumes active growth for the season. It is a good choice for attracting bees to your yard, but is not particularly attractive to deer who tend to leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration;

Spreading

Amber Queen Barrenwort is recommended for the following landscape applications;

Mass Planting
Border Edging
General Garden Use
Groundcover
Naturalizing And Woodland Gardens
Container Planting

Planting & Growing

Amber Queen Barrenwort will grow to be about 24 inches tall at maturity, with a spread of 24 inches. When grown in masses or used as a bedding plant, individual plants should be spaced approximately 18 inches apart. Its foliage tends to remain dense right to the ground, not requiring facer plants in front. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 10 years. As an evegreen perennial, this plant will typically keep its form and foliage year-round.

This plant does best in partial shade to shade. It is very adaptable to both dry and moist growing conditions, but will not tolerate any standing water. It is considered to be drought-tolerant, and thus makes an ideal choice for a low-water garden or xeriscape application. It is not particular as to soil pH, but grows best in rich soils. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. Consider applying a thick mulch around the root zone in winter to protect it in exposed locations or colder microclimates. This particular variety is an interspecific hybrid. It can be propagated by division; however, as a cultivated variety, be aware that it may be subject to certain restrictions or prohibitions on propagation.

Amber Queen Barrenwort is a fine choice for the garden, but it is also a good selection for planting in outdoor pots and containers. Because of its spreading habit of growth, it is ideally suited for use as a 'spiller' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination; plant it near the edges where it can spill gracefully over the pot. It is even sizeable enough that it can be grown alone in a suitable container. Note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden. Be aware that in our climate, most plants cannot be expected to survive the winter if left in containers outdoors, and this plant is no exception. Contact our experts for more information on how to protect it over the winter months.