Epimedium x rubrum
Epimedium x rubrum (Cc. 920042)
Often listed as variety or cultivar of E. alpinum, it is said to be a hybrid between E. alpinum and E. grandiflorum, however the colorful spring foliage could only have come from E. sempervirens ‘Violet Queen’. This slow-spreading hybrid (rhizomes 2-4”) is an excellent groundcover, forming a thick mass of medium-sized leaflets on 16” stems. Foliage flushes cherry-red in spring. The abundantly produced medium-sized flowers have red sepals, creamy-yellow spurs. Commonly referred to as drought-tolerant, but I haven't observed that to be true.
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Epimedium x rubrum 'Sweetheart'
Epimedium x rubrum ‘Sweetheart’ (Cc. 930007)
***1997 Cobblewood Introduction***
This cultivar easily rivals Hosta as a bold textural garden accent. The first of Darrell Probst's Epimedium introductions, resulting from a 1991 cross he made between E. sempervirens ‘Candy Hearts’ and E. alpinum. Flowers with dark rose-red sepals bloom above and below the leaves. Leaflets are much larger, darker green and more rounded than is typical. Large, shiny new leaflets bear a thin red rim in spring. Semi-evergreen. 16" tall. Foliage is far superior to E. x rubrum, and the plant is much more drought-tolerant. Spreads by 2-4" rhizomes.
