How to Grow Goat Weed

Goat weed, also known as horny goat weed and bishop's hat, belongs to the berberis family. Its genus, Epimedium, has dozens of different species. This plant is prized for its ability to thrive in shade, its heart-shaped foliage and delicate flowers and its functionality as a groundcover. Epimedium varieties are all native to either the Mediterranean or East Asia. Those native to Asia must be protected from the wind.

Things You'll Need

• Compost
• Bone meal
• Mulch

Instructions

1. Choose a site with well-draining soil and partial shade. Some varieties will thrive underneath trees. Dig a hole and fill it with water. If the water hasn't drained after 12 hours, choose another site or amend the soil heavily with organic matter and loosen the soil thoroughly.

2. Loosen the soil and incorporate organic material when planting. Compost or well-rotted manure are both excellent soil amendments. You may wish also to sprinkle some bone meal in the planting hole.

3. Lay a few inches of mulch around the plants after planting to conserve soil moisture. Leaf mulch, compost or bark mulch are all acceptable.

4. Water Epimedium to get it established. Once it's established, goat weed is fairly drought tolerant, the ones of Mediterranean origin more so than those of Asian origin.

5. Divide clumping groundcovers every three to four years. Distribute the plants among friends and family or start new colonies elsewhere in the garden.

Tips & Warnings

• Many Epimedium species are evergreen.

References

• Missouri Botanical Garden: Epimedium grandiflorum 'Lilafee'
• The Telegraph; How to Grow Epimedium perralderianum; Val Bourne; January 2003
• Fine Gardening: Epimedium rubrum
• Cornell University: Barrenwort, Longspur
• The Sunday Times: Gardening Tips: 10 Things to Know About Horny Goat Weed or Epimedium; Jane Owen; May 2008

Resources

• Brooklyn Botanic Garden; Elegant Epimedium; Barbara Blossom Ashmun; March 2007