Garden Vision Epimediums

choice perennials for the shade garden

evergreen

Epimedium perralderianum

E. perralderianum (Cc. 980085)

Native to the moist remnants of oak and cedar forest in northeast Algeria, this drought tolerant species forms a handsome evergreen ground cover. Smaller than E. pinnatum ssp. colchicum, it differs in that its heart-shaped, veined leaflets are in sets of three, with spiny edges that give textural interest. Flowers are much the same-- small, lemon-yellow, and rounded with diminutive mahogany spurs that bend upwards. Leaflets are patterned with red/bronze in spring and fall. Spreading rhizomes grow 2-4". First foliage flush to 4", second to 8" high. This clone is courtesy of the late David Barker, who held one of the national UK collections of Epimediums.  

Cardamine trifolia “Japanese Cultivar”

Cardamine trifolia “Japanese Cultivar”

Beautiful, very low growing: 2-3” high, dense and tidy shade ground cover. Purchased in a Japanese garden shop by Barry Yinger with a name he could never find reference to. He believes it is a special selection. It is too nice of a garden plant to let that keep us from offering it.

Clouds of white cruciferous blooms hover 8-10” above the foliage on naked stems in mid-May. Deep evergreen trifoliate leaves with velvety purple undersides. Spreads slowly over time via 2” herbaceous rhizomes. Does best in bright to deep shade, in evenly moist, humus-rich soils. A favorite of mine.

Epimedium truncatum

Epimedium truncatum     (Several clones/Cc. numbers)

 

The large, evergreen leaflets of E. truncatum differ in that the usual two basal lobes are missing, as if snipped off by scissors! They have a smooth, semi-gloss finish and are held on 15" stems. Open panicles to 21” hold numerous tiny white-sepaled, yellow petaled flowers, covered with striking blue-black outer sepals in bud.

5Epimedium sp. nov. ‘Tarantula’

Epimedium sp. nov. ‘Tarantula’    Cc. 012418

This clone has the narrowest leaves of any Epimedium in our entire collection. Delicate hair-like spines, run the edge of each leaf in a zig-zag pattern. Bears long, sprays of soft yellow flowers. Leaflets range in size from .25 to 5/8” across, and 3-4” in length, sporting an occasional simple leaf.


 

Epimedium pubescens “Shaanxi Forms”

Epimedium pubescens “Shaanxi Forms”

(Several clones/Cc. numbers)

Epimedium pubescens is generally hardy from Zone 6 south, but these clones from Shaanxi Province have proven hardier, growing well in Zone 5. Forms a leafy clump 12” tall/wide with the flower panicles reaching to 16”. Medium-sized, evergreen spring leaflets are flecked with crimson, and mature to a glossy dark green with spiny margins. Starry flowers are borne in large airy panicles with 1/2” long, narrow, white reflexed inner-sepals and tiny orange-yellow spurred petals. Slightly spreading by 1-2" rhizomes.

Epimedium ogisui

Epimedium ogisui    (Several clones/Cc. numbers)

Named in 1993 by Professor Stearn after Mikinori Ogisu, who discovered it in China in 1992 growing beside a waterfall. Darrell collected a few divisions at that same waterfall in 1996. Although described as pure white, the inner-sepals are usually pale pink. A cliff dweller in its native habitat, the flower stems spread out nearly horizontally holding large flowers. Medium-sized evergreen leaflets are glaucous, uniquely oval-shaped often with red spring coloration. Spreads by 6-8” long, thin rhizomes. USDA zones 6-9.