Zone 6 · winter lows -10°F to 0°F

Epimedium for Zone 6

85 Epimedium varieties rated hardy through Zone 6, ranked by how many gardeners actually grow them. Zone 6 is the sweet spot — nearly everything hardy grows here.

85 hardy hereof 85 Epimedium totalLast frost ~late April

The Epimedium that thrive in Zone 6

Epimedium Songbirds#1 most saved

Epimedium Songbirds

Epimedium x hybrida 'Songbirds'

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

Barrenwort

Epimedium sempervirens

Zones 5–8· 83 saves
Versicolor Bicolor Barrenwort#3 most saved

Versicolor Bicolor Barrenwort

Epimedium versicolor 'Versicolor'

Zones 4–9· 65 saves· from $30
Frohnleiten Barrenwort

Frohnleiten Barrenwort

Epimedium x perralchicum 'Frohnleiten'

Zones 5–8· 45 saves· from $25
Corsican Epimedium

Corsican Epimedium

Epimedium x cantabrigiense

Zones 4–8· 45 saves
Sichuan Spider Barrenwort

Sichuan Spider Barrenwort

Epimedium chlorandrum 'Sichuan Spider'

Zones 5–8· 44 saves
Razzleberry Barrenwort

Razzleberry Barrenwort

Epimedium x omeiense 'Razzleberry'

Zones 5–9· 40 saves
Epimedium grandiflorum Bandit

Epimedium grandiflorum Bandit

Epimedium grandiflorum 'Bandit'

Zones 4–8· 37 saves
Milky Way Barrenwort

Milky Way Barrenwort

Epimedium youngianum 'Milky Way'

Zones 4–8· 36 saves
Sandy Claws Barrenwort

Sandy Claws Barrenwort

Epimedium wushanense 'Sandy Claws'

Zones 5–8· 36 saves· from $32
Harold Epstein Barrenwort

Harold Epstein Barrenwort

Epimedium koreanum 'Harold Epstein'

Zones 4–8· 36 saves
Variegatum Large-flowered Barrenwort

Variegatum Large-flowered Barrenwort

Epimedium grandiflorum 'Variegatum'

Zones 4–8· 36 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
Epimedium Tamabotan

Epimedium Tamabotan

Epimedium youngianum 'Tamabotan'

Zones 4–8· 35 saves
Franchet's Epimedium

Franchet's Epimedium

Epimedium franchetii

Zones 5–8· 34 saves
Pink Star Barrenwort

Pink Star Barrenwort

Epimedium youngianum 'Pink Star'

Zones 5–8· 34 saves
Franchetii Epimedium Suntan

Franchetii Epimedium Suntan

Epimedium franchetii 'Suntan'

Zones 5–8· 34 saves
Red Barrenwort

Red Barrenwort

Epimedium x rubrum

Zones 4–8· 33 saves· from $39
Fairy Dust Barrenwort

Fairy Dust Barrenwort

Epimedium youngianum 'Fairy Dust'

Zones 5–8· 33 saves
Cupreum Bicolor Barrenwort

Cupreum Bicolor Barrenwort

Epimedium versicolor 'Cupreum'

Zones 5–9· 32 saves· from $15
Arrowleaf Barrenwort

Arrowleaf Barrenwort

Epimedium sagittatum

Zones 5–8· 32 saves
Large-flowered Barrenwort

Large-flowered Barrenwort

Epimedium grandiflorum

Zones 5–8· 31 saves
Lavender Lady Barrenwort

Lavender Lady Barrenwort

Epimedium grandiflorum 'Lavender Lady'

Zones 5–8· 31 saves

Showing the 24 most-saved of 85 Zone 6–hardy Epimedium varieties. See the full Epimedium list →

Epimedium in Zone 6

Will Epimedium survive a Zone 6 winter?

85 of the 85 Epimedium varieties in the Sow catalog are rated hardy through Zone 6, where winter lows reach -10°F to 0°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 6?

In Zone 6 the last spring frost typically lands around late April and the first fall frost around mid-October. 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 6?

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 6 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.