Franchet's Barrenwort Plant Care
Epimedium franchetii Stearn
Updated · Sources · How we source care data
Epimedium franchetii is a species of flowering plant in the family Berberidaceae, native to Hubei and Guizhou provinces of China. Its cultivar 'Brimstone Butterfly' has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.
Every 7–10 days
Partial to full shade
50–75°F
40–60%
At a glance
How do you care for Franchet's Barrenwort?
Water Franchet's Barrenwort every 7–10 days, letting the top layer of soil dry out between waterings, and give it partial to full shade. It prefers temperatures of 50–75°F (10–24°C) and 40–60% humidity. Fertilize it every 6 months during the growing season.
Where Is the Franchet's Barrenwort Native To?
What Is the Franchet's Barrenwort?
Franchet's Barrenwort (Epimedium franchetii) belongs to the Berberidaceae family within the Epimedium genus. Franchet's Barrenwort is native to Hubei and Guizhou provinces of China. Franchet's Barrenwort is also known as Franchet's Bishop's Hat, Franchet's Fairy Wings.
Franchet's Barrenwort displays a low clumping perennial growth habit, reaching up to 1 ft tall with a spread of approximately 1.5 ft. Franchet's Barrenwort produces delicate, small flowers in shades of yellow, orange, pink, or white.
Leaf size: approximately 4 inches.
How Often Should You Water a Franchet's Barrenwort?
Epimedium franchetii requires watering every 7–10 days. Allow the top layer of soil to dry between waterings to prevent root rot. Reduce watering frequency during winter when growth slows.
Watering Frequency
Every 7–10 days
Let soil partially dry between waterings
What Light Does the Franchet's Barrenwort Need?
Franchet's Barrenwort thrives in partial to full shade. The optimal light range is 100–500 lux. Avoid placing Franchet's Barrenwort in direct, harsh sunlight for extended periods, as this can scorch the foliage.
Light Requirement
Partial to full shade
100–500 lux
What Temperature and Humidity Does the Franchet's Barrenwort Prefer?
Epimedium franchetii grows best at temperatures of 50–75°F. Franchet's Barrenwort prefers humidity levels of 40–60%.
Temperature
50–75°F
Humidity
40–60%
What Soil Mix Works Best for a Franchet's Barrenwort?
Rich, well-draining soil with high organic matter content. Good drainage is essential for Franchet's Barrenwort to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.
How Often Should You Fertilize a Franchet's Barrenwort?
Feed Franchet's Barrenwort every 6 months during the growing season (spring and summer) with a balanced fertilizer diluted to the strength on the label.
Pause feeding in autumn and winter, when growth slows, and never fertilize dry soil — water first.
Fertilizing
Every 6 months
During the growing season
The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.
How Do You Repot a Franchet's Barrenwort?
Repot every 2-3 years in early spring. Choose a pot one size larger than the current container, and ensure it has drainage holes to allow excess water to escape.
How Do You Propagate a Franchet's Barrenwort?
Franchet's Barrenwort can be propagated through division, seeds. Similar propagation techniques also apply to barrenwort plant care, which shares the same genus.
Is the Franchet's Barrenwort Toxic to Pets and Children?
Pet safety not verified
The ASPCA does not list Franchet's Barrenwort, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Keep pets from chewing it as a precaution.
This is a general caution, not veterinary or medical advice. If your pet ate a plant, contact your vet or animal poison control.
See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.
What Pests and Diseases Affect the Franchet's Barrenwort?
Franchet's Barrenwort is susceptible to slugs, snails. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.
Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.
What USDA Hardiness Zone Does the Franchet's Barrenwort Need?
Franchet's Barrenwort grows outdoors in USDA Zone 12a. It survives winters down to planting zone 12a. Franchet's Barrenwort is native to Hubei and Guizhou provinces of China. In cooler regions, grow Franchet's Barrenwort as a houseplant or bring it indoors before the first frost.
Hardiness Zone
Zone 12a
Keep exploring plants
Franchet's Barrenwort is one of many species covered in the complete plant care and identification guide, which groups plants by genus, attribute, and popularity.
It belongs to the Epimedium genus — compare its care with other Epimedium species on PlantoScan.
Epimedium is part of the Berberidaceae plant family — browse all Berberidaceae genera and species.
Franchet's Barrenwort copes with lower light than most plants — browse the full list of low-light plants.
More Epimedium Species
Other Epimedium species in PlantoScan's care catalogue share similar watering, light, and soil preferences:
Sources
- Scientific name & taxonomy: Epimedium franchetii Stearn, family Berberidaceae (first published in Kew Bull. 51: 396 (1996)) — World Flora Online record, IPNI name record.
- Pet toxicity: Pet safety not verified: the ASPCA does not list Franchet's Barrenwort, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Checked against the ASPCA plant list; any other toxicity note on this page comes from PlantoScan's plant database.
- Hardiness zone: USDA Zone 12a, calculated from the plant's minimum temperature.
- Care values(watering, light, temperature, humidity, soil, fertilizing): PlantoScan's plant database, filtered by automatic plausibility checks — values that fail them are hidden. How we source and check plant data.
Spotted a mistake? Email info@upvision.media with the page link — we check and correct reported errors.
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