Practical
Plants

Epimedium grandiflorum

Barrenwort

a perennial member of the Epimedium genus in the family Berberidaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Height
0.35 m
Spread
0.3 m
Flower type
hermaphrodite

Uses

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Young plant and young leaves - cooked[2][6]. Soaked and then boiled[5]. (This suggests that the leaves are bitter and need to be soaked in order to remove the bitterness.)

Plant part
Leaves

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The aerial parts of the plant are antiasthmatic, antibacterial, antirheumatic, antitussive, aphrodisiac, hypoglycaemic, tonic and vasodilator. Its use lowers blood sugar levels[3][4]. It is used in the treatment of impotence, seminal emissions, lumbago, arthritis, numbness and weakness of the limbs, hypertension and chronic bronchitis[4]. It has an action on the genitals similar to the male sex hormone and can increase the weight of the prostate gland and seminal vesicle, it has increased copulation in animals and increases the secretion of semens[4]. The leaves are used as an aphrodisiac[9]. Administered orally, the leaf extract increases the frequency of copulation in animals[9].

Product or use
Antiasthmatic
Product or use
Antibacterial
Product or use
Antirheumatic
Product or use
Antitussive
Product or use
Aphrodisiac
Product or use
Hypoglycaemic
Product or use
Tonic
Product or use
Vasodilator

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

A good ground cover plant[8].

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Soil surface

Environment

Range
E. Asia - Japan, Manchuria.
Habitat
Moist woods in the hills[7]. Calcareous rocks in moist woodland[11]. (This entry refers to sub-species E. grandiflorum higoense. Shimau.)
Shade tolerance
partial shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 5+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - best sown in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe in late summer[8]. Sow stored seed as early as possible in the year in a cold frame. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in light shade in the cold frame or greenhouse for at least their first winter[K]. Plant them out in mid to late summer[K]. Division in July/August according to one report, in late spring according to another[8]. Larger clumps can be replanted direct into their permanent positions, though it is best to pot up smaller clumps and grow them on in a cold frame until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the spring. Cuttings in late summer[8].

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Succeeds in any fertile humus-rich soil[8], preferring a peaty loam[1]. Grows best in semi-shade[8]. Plants can succeed in the dry shed of trees[10]. Plants are hardy to about -20°c[7], though the flowers in spring can be damaged by late frosts[10]. A very ornamental plant[1], there are several named varieties[7]. It grows well in the rock garden or wild garden[1]. Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer or rabbits[10].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

  2. Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00

    ↩

  3. Brooklyn Botanic Garden Oriental Herbs and Vegetables, Vol 39 No. 2. Brooklyn Botanic Garden 1986-00-00

    ↩

  4. Yeung. Him-Che. Handbook of Chinese Herbs and Formulas. Institute of Chinese Medicine, Los Angeles 1985-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

  5. Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169

    ↩

  6. Reid. B. E. Famine Foods of the Chiu-Huang Pen-ts'ao. Taipei. Southern Materials Centre 1977-00-00

    ↩

  7. Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Perennials Volumes 1 and 2. Pan Books 1991-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30936-9

    ↩1↩2↩3

  8. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6

  9. Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-917256-20-4

    ↩1↩2

  10. Thomas. G. S. Perennial Garden Plants J. M. Dent & Sons, London. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0 460 86048 8

    ↩1↩2↩3

  11. Ohwi. G. Flora of Japan. (English translation) Smithsonian Institution 1965-00-00

    ↩

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