bishop's hat

Bishop's hat (Epimedium warleyense) should be watered lightly but frequently. The soil should be kept moist, but not soggy. The best time to water this plant is in the morning, when temperatures are cooler, allowing the water to be absorbed into the soil more efficiently. The Bishop's hat should be watered every 2 or 3 days during the warm months and every 5 to 7 days during the cooler months. During periods of drought or extreme heat, daily watering may be necessary.

Bishop's hat (Epimedium warleyense) is best grown in partial to full shade. The plant enjoys some direct sun but not an excessive amount. When grown in shady areas, Bishop's hat prefers temperatures between 70-80°F. When exposed to more direct sunlight, the temperatures should be lower, between 60-70°F. Sunlight hours should be limited to between 3 to 6 hours of direct sunlight per day. It is important to give the plant some morning or filtered afternoon sunlight, but the intensity should be limited. Bishop's hat will tolerate some periods of drought, so it only needs to be watered in warm months when the soil begins to dry out.

Bishop's Hat (Epimedium warleyense) should be lightly pruned in late winter to early spring, just as new growth starts to show. This will remove any damaged stems and control the size of the plant. Shear back the old foliage on top, cutting it back to about 8 inches. This will encourage new side shoots to develop, promoting a full, bushy habit. Avoid shearing any emerging flower spikes as this will cause them to flop over. On established specimens, it may be beneficial to lightly prune out 1 third of the previous year’s growth in late winter to early spring. This will help keep the plant looking fresh and encourage more flower spikes to develop.