Zone 4 · winter lows -30°F to -20°F

Epimedium for Zone 4

42 Epimedium varieties rated hardy through Zone 4, ranked by how many gardeners actually grow them. Zone 4 is short, intense seasons — plants here are the toughest in the catalog.

42 hardy hereof 85 Epimedium totalLast frost ~mid-May

The Epimedium that thrive in Zone 4

Epimedium Songbirds#1 most saved

Epimedium Songbirds

Epimedium x hybrida 'Songbirds'

Zones 4–9· 211 saves
Versicolor Bicolor Barrenwort#2 most saved

Versicolor Bicolor Barrenwort

Epimedium versicolor 'Versicolor'

Zones 4–9· 65 saves· from $30
Corsican Epimedium#3 most saved

Corsican Epimedium

Epimedium x cantabrigiense

Zones 4–8· 45 saves
Epimedium grandiflorum Bandit

Epimedium grandiflorum Bandit

Epimedium grandiflorum 'Bandit'

Zones 4–8· 37 saves
Variegatum Large-flowered Barrenwort

Variegatum Large-flowered Barrenwort

Epimedium grandiflorum 'Variegatum'

Zones 4–8· 36 saves
Barrenwort

Barrenwort

Epimedium brachyrrhizum

Zones 4–8· 36 saves
Harold Epstein Barrenwort

Harold Epstein Barrenwort

Epimedium koreanum 'Harold Epstein'

Zones 4–8· 36 saves
Milky Way Barrenwort

Milky Way Barrenwort

Epimedium youngianum 'Milky Way'

Zones 4–8· 36 saves
Epimedium Tamabotan

Epimedium Tamabotan

Epimedium youngianum 'Tamabotan'

Zones 4–8· 35 saves
Perralch's Barrenwort

Perralch's Barrenwort

Epimedium x perralchicum

Zones 4–9· 35 saves
Starry Barrenwort

Starry Barrenwort

Epimedium stellulatum 'Long Leaf Form'

Zones 4–8· 35 saves
Red Barrenwort

Red Barrenwort

Epimedium x rubrum

Zones 4–8· 33 saves· from $39
Red Queen Barrenwort

Red Queen Barrenwort

Epimedium grandiflorum 'Red Queen'

Zones 4–8· 31 saves
Atlas Barrenwort

Atlas Barrenwort

Epimedium x hybrida 'Atlas'

Zones 4–8· 30 saves
Epimedium grandiflorum Purple Prince

Epimedium grandiflorum Purple Prince

Epimedium grandiflorum 'Purple Prince'

Zones 4–8· 29 saves· from $14
Omei Barrenwort

Omei Barrenwort

Epimedium x omeiense

Zones 4–8· 29 saves
Epimedium Sweetheart

Epimedium Sweetheart

Epimedium x rubrum 'Sweetheart'

Zones 4–8· 29 saves· from $30
Capella Barrenwort

Capella Barrenwort

Epimedium youngianum 'Capella'

Zones 4–8· 29 saves
Dwarf Barrenwort

Dwarf Barrenwort

Epimedium grandiflorum 'Nanum'

Zones 4–8· 29 saves· from $14
Princess Susan Barrenwort

Princess Susan Barrenwort

Epimedium grandiflorum 'Princess Susan'

Zones 4–8· 28 saves
Rose Queen Barrenwort

Rose Queen Barrenwort

Epimedium grandiflorum 'Rose Queen'

Zones 4–8· 28 saves· from $30
Warley Barrenwort

Warley Barrenwort

Epimedium x warleyense

Zones 4–9· 27 saves· from $31
Be My Valentine Barrenwort

Be My Valentine Barrenwort

Epimedium youngianum 'Be My Valentine'

Zones 4–8· 27 saves· from $14
Farges' Epimedium

Farges' Epimedium

Epimedium fargesii

Zones 4–8· 26 saves

Showing the 24 most-saved of 42 Zone 4–hardy Epimedium varieties. See the full Epimedium list →

Epimedium in Zone 4

Will Epimedium survive a Zone 4 winter?

42 of the 85 Epimedium varieties in the Sow catalog are rated hardy through Zone 4, where winter lows reach -30°F to -20°F. Hardiness is per-variety, not per-genus — the plants listed above are the ones that hold up; others in the genus are not rated for this zone.

When should I plant Epimedium in Zone 4?

In Zone 4 the last spring frost typically lands around mid-May and the first fall frost around late September. Planting after the last frost — or in early fall, so roots establish before the ground cools — gives the best establishment. Each plant page lists its own planting months.

Which Epimedium is best for Zone 4?

Start at the top of the list above: it is ranked by how many gardeners actually save and grow each variety, which is a strong real-world reliability signal. Then narrow by your sun exposure and the mature size that fits the bed.

Keep exploring

See Epimedium in your Zone 4 yard

Snap a photo of your space and Sow places these varieties in it at true mature size — then keeps the care schedule for everything you plant.

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