Garden Vision Epimediums

choice perennials for the shade garden

evergreen

Epimedium ilicifolium

Epimedium ilicifolium (Several clones/Cc. numbers)

A particularly cold-hardy, Chinese evergreen species from Shaanxi Province. Darrell found it in three areas in Nov. 2000 at the highest elevation above snowline. He trudged up steep ravines through snow and freezing temps just to see it in the wild. The long, narrow, evergreen leaflets are especially spiny (ilici-=holly, folium=leaf), on stems to 10”. Large flowers with light green inner sepals and bright yellow spurs, on stems to 18”.

Epimedium dolichostemon

Epimedium dolichostemon Og. 81010  (Cc. 980078)

Narrow, evergreen, medium-sized arrow-shaped leaflets, heavily mottled with burgundy in the spring. Each small uniquely shaped flower has beautiful, reflexed, white inner-sepals and red petals with short, strongly curved spurs. 18” tall. In 1998, Robin White generously shared a blooming plant.

Darrell was awestruck the first time he saw slides of this clone. Lois Himes, garden assistant to Harold Epstein, took them of a plant exhibited by Robin White when she accompanied Harold to a 1995 Royal Horticultural Society show in London. It is far superior to the Ogisu clone (Og. 81011-- which is unfortunately terribly virused) making the rounds in the U.S.

 

Iris dabashanensis

Iris dabashanensis  (Several clones) 

(formerly sold under the name Iris henryi)

A newly named Iris species collected by Darrell Probst in N.E. Sichuan Province. Belongs to the same Chinensis section of the genus Iris as I. koreana and odaesanensis, but is very different. Best in bright shade/half-sun and in rock gardens. Forms a 12” by 2’ clump of evergreen, grassy foliage 1/8” wide. In mid-spring, numerous 6” stems emerge, each bearing two 1”+ palest lavender Iris flowers with a small, yellow signal.  Pictured here in combination with Epimedium platypetalum.

Asarum caudatum forma alba

Asarum caudatum f. alba

 A "white” flowered form of this lovely West Coast native ginger. It thrives in partial shade, and moist, humus-rich soil, forming attractive colonies of large, lustrous, dark green, heart-shaped leaves 4” tall. Curious, creamy green flowers, each with three long tails, appear at the base of the plant in spring. This form is not com­monly in cultivation and comes true from seed.  Spreads by fleshy rhizomes 2-4" per year.  

Epimedium epsteinii

E. epsteinii   (Several clones/Cc. numbers)   


Discovered in 1994 and named after an outstanding plantsman—the late Harold Epstein. For half a century he grew Epimediums to perfection in his garden “La Rocaille” in Larchmont, NY.

This species has the widest sepals in the genus, nearly 1/2" across and slightly longer, pure white and a striking contrast to the reddish-purple spurs and cup. There are 10 (usually) to 30 of these medium-large flowers per stem. 6-10" tall with medium-sized, dark glossy evergreen leaflets. Spreads 6-8" a year forming a dense low ground­cover. Benefits from some winter mulch in Zone 5. 

Epimedium pinnatum ssp. pinnatum

E. pinnatum ssp. pinnatum  (Cc. 980084)  


This eastern subspecies of E. pinnatum is uncommon in cultivation. Native to the Caspian forests of northern Iran, the late David Barker shared this with us when we visited his garden in Chelmsford, Essex, UK in 1998. Sprays of small, bright lemon-yellow flowers with tiny brown spurs erupt in early spring to 7” beyond the newly emerging foliage. While the flowers are different from ssp. colchicum in having spurs that are half the length, gardeners will notice the difference in plant habit. Generally taller with 9 medium-sized evergreen leaflets per leaf vs. 3-5. Flowers 3/4” in diameter. Leaflets are a clear spring green with a slight rose flush. Spreads by 8” rhizomes. Light red fall color.  The earliest of the E. pinnatums to leaf out in spring.