Zone 4 · winter lows -30°F to -20°F

Epimedium for Zone 4

40 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.

40 hardy hereof 82 Epimedium totalLast frost ~mid-May

The Epimedium that thrive in Zone 4

#1 most saved

Epimedium Songbirds

Epimedium x hybrida 'Songbirds'

Zones 4–9· 173 saves

#2 most saved

Bicolor Barrenwort

Epimedium x versicolor 'Versicolor'

Zones 4–9· 59 saves· from $30

#3 most saved

Corsican Epimedium

Epimedium x cantabrigiense

Zones 4–8· 38 saves

Barrenwort

Epimedium brachyrrhizum

Zones 4–8· 33 saves

Milky Way Barrenwort

Epimedium x youngianum 'Milky Way'

Zones 4–8· 32 saves

Large-flowered Barrenwort

Epimedium grandiflorum 'Variegatum'

Zones 4–8· 32 saves

Epimedium grandiflorum Bandit

Epimedium grandiflorum 'Bandit'

Zones 4–8· 31 saves· from $25

Epimedium Tamabotan

Epimedium x youngianum 'Tamabotan'

Zones 4–8· 31 saves

Harold Epstein Barrenwort

Epimedium koreanum 'Harold Epstein'

Zones 4–8· 31 saves

Starry Barrenwort

Epimedium stellulatum 'Long Leaf Form'

Zones 4–8· 31 saves

Red Barrenwort

Epimedium x rubrum

Zones 4–8· 30 saves· from $39

Atlas Barrenwort

Epimedium x hybrida 'Atlas'

Zones 4–8· 30 saves

Perralch's Barrenwort

Epimedium x perralchicum

Zones 4–9· 30 saves

Capella Barrenwort

Epimedium x youngianum 'Capella'

Zones 4–8· 28 saves

Epimedium Sweetheart

Epimedium x rubrum 'Sweetheart'

Zones 4–8· 28 saves· from $30

Red Queen Barrenwort

Epimedium grandiflorum 'Red Queen'

Zones 4–8· 26 saves

Omei Barrenwort

Epimedium x omeiense

Zones 4–8· 26 saves

Warley Barrenwort

Epimedium x warleyense

Zones 4–9· 25 saves

Epimedium grandiflorum Purple Prince

Epimedium grandiflorum 'Purple Prince'

Zones 4–8· 25 saves

Rose Queen Barrenwort

Epimedium grandiflorum 'Rose Queen'

Zones 4–8· 24 saves· from $30

Farges' Epimedium

Epimedium fargesii

Zones 4–8· 23 saves

Dwarf Barrenwort

Epimedium grandiflorum 'Nanum'

Zones 4–8· 23 saves

Young's Barrenwort 'Royal Flush'

Epimedium x youngianum 'Royal Flush'

Zones 4–8· 23 saves

Be My Valentine Barrenwort

Epimedium youngianum 'Be My Valentine'

Zones 4–8· 23 saves· from $18

Showing the 24 most-saved of 40 Zone 4–hardy Epimedium varieties. See the full Epimedium list →

Epimedium in Zone 4

Will Epimedium survive a Zone 4 winter?

40 of the 82 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

All Epimedium

Every Epimedium variety (82)

Epimedium in other zones

More for Zone 4

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.