Bishop's Hat (Epimedium x versicolor 'Sulphureum')
ep-ih-MEE-dee-um ex VERS-ih-kul-or 'Sulphureum'

Evergreen Perennial Spreading Groundcover in the Berberidaceae Family
A vigorous, evergreen cultivar with pale yellow flowers and bronze-tinted foliage that forms dense, weed-suppressing groundcover.
Epimedium x versicolor 'Sulphureum' is one of the most reliable and widely grown Epimedium cultivars, valued for forming dense, weed-suppressing swathes of evergreen groundcover under trees and shrubs. Heart-shaped leaflets emerge bronze-tinted in spring, with bronze-red mottling and pale green veining that gives the foliage year-round interest. In mid-spring, slender, arching stems carry pale yellow flowers above the young foliage. It spreads more readily than many other Epimedium species and is very drought tolerant once established.

Pros

  • Evergreen foliage with year-round bronze-red mottling
  • Vigorous, reliable, weed-suppressing groundcover
  • Pale yellow spring flowers on arching stems
  • Very drought tolerant once established

Cons

  • Spreads by rhizomes, so it is not a tidy, non-spreading clump former
  • Vigorous habit means it needs room to spread
  • Old winter foliage should be cut back before spring growth for best appearance
Highlights One of the most reliable Epimedium cultivars, valued for its evergreen, bronze-red mottled foliage and pale yellow spring flowers.
 

Plant Data

Mature Size 8 - 12 inches tall. 18 - 24 inches wide.
Growth Rate Fast
Sun Exposure Partial Sun - Full Shade
Moisture Tolerance Dry - Medium
Zones 5a - 8b (Usually hardy to -20° F)
Tags Deer Resistant, Dry, Evergreen, Filler, Full Shade, Medium, Partial Sun, Perennial, Rabbit Resistant
Bloom Period April - May
Flower Color Yellow
Foliage Color Bronze-Tinted With Pale Green Veins
 

More Info from Experts

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Pricing and Availability History

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Past Availability
2025 : 04/03 - 10/04
2024 : 05/01 - 10/05
2023 : 05/04 - 09/30

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Field-Grown vs. Greenhouse-Grown Plants

Plants which are well-adapted to our local climate are most often field-grown (outside). Field-grown plants are generally cheaper and have the advantage of already somewhat acclimated to our cold winters, but that means they’re not artificially far along in the spring and tend to bloom at the normal time in our area.

Spring annuals and tender perennials are typically grown in Greenhouses so they can be ready and luxurious exactly when customers want them. Some perennials are also “forced” into early bloom in greenhouses. In May, there can be a very big difference between field-grown and greenhouse-grown plants of the same type. The latter typically look good right away (so they’re a great choice where that’s important), but we typically pay a premium for it.


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No Pricing or Availability Right Now

We order from a rotating cast of the best nurseries in the Great Lakes region. It looks like we've offered this plant in the past, but the nurseries we're working with this week don't appear to have it in stock at the moment.

Our goal is to bring as many plants together under "one roof" as possible, so we'll try hard to make it available again in the future!