Alpine barrenwort is a lovely woodland plant that needs fertile, humus-rich soil to thrive. It hasn't flowered annually, but when it does, the flowers emerge at the same time as the foliage, around mid-May. The leaves are thin and light green at first, but turns red after flowering before it turns a dark green. So it's not just the flowers that are ornamental, the foliage brings a beautiful colour to the perennial border well into summer.