Epimedium x versicolor
Hybrids between E. grandiflorum and E. pinnatum ssp. colchicum originally created at the Ghent Botanic Garden. Generally sterile, semi-evergreen to evergreen plants that spread by 2 to 6” long rhizomes. Flowers are medium-sized and variously colored. Medium-sized leaflets. Drought tolerant.
Epimedium x versicolor 'Cherry Tart'
Epimedium x versicolor ‘Cherry Tart’ (Cc. 970064)
***1999 Cobblewood Introduction***
A spontaneous seedling originating in the garden of Judy Springer, formerly of Great Falls, VA. Erect stems sport numerous, outfacing flowers. Large, medium-pink inner sepals back flaming, cherry-red spurs with a bright, lemon-rimmed cup. Spreads slowly by 2-4” long rhizomes. Medium-sized leaflets are handsomely flushed with reddish-purple in spring with a mustard tone that changes to a dark burgundy blush in the fall. 12-15”. Blooms early and is drought-tolerant. Semi-evergreen.
Epimedium x versicolor 'Cupreum'
Epimedium x versicolor ‘Cupreum’ (Cc. 950143)
Thanks to Carla Lankow of Renton, WA for the original stock of this captivating plant. With the same parents as ‘Versicolor’, it is similar, but has a slightly deeper flower color and more intensely red spring foliage with green venation. Usually with more numerous, slightly smaller leaflets per leaf, each more angular and less rounded. Foliage to 9” and flowers to 12”. Rhizomes grow 4-5” inches/year. Semi-evergreen with deep orange to maroon fall color. An early bloomer, it is also very drought-tolerant.
Epimedium x versicolor 'Neosulphureum'
E. x versicolor ‘Neosulphureum’ (Cc. 920044)
Undeservedly rare in cultivation, this counterpart to the more common ‘Sulphureum’ is shorter and semi-spreading with 2-4” rhizomes that form a tight groundcover. Pale yellow flowers are held on 12” erect, airy sprays. Flower spurs half as long as the inner-sepals. Spring leaflets are nicely bronzed on stems 6-8” and form a darker background against which to view the soft yellow flowers. Early bloomer and drought-tolerant. Semi-evergreen.
Epimedium x versicolor 'Strawberry Blush'
E. x versicolor ‘Strawberry Blush’ (Cc. 990615)
***2004 Cobblewood Introduction***
Wide, antique pink sepals brushed with rose streaks back a cheerful lemon-yellow cup, which deepens to rose purple short, curved spurs. The soft pastel flowers blend beautifully with the pinkish maroon mottled new spring leaflets. Darkest at the edges, the color fades to green at the center of small/medium-sized leaflets, before turning entirely green. Handsome, medium green, glossy summer/fall foliage. Particularly drought tolerant. Semi-evergreen. Flowers/foliage to 10”. Spreading rhizomes grow 2-4" per year. Drought-tolerant.
Epimedium xversicolor 'Sulphureum'
Epimedium xversicolor ‘Sulphureum’ (Cc. 840002)
(Synonym: E. pallidum)
Superb in mass plantings, it spreads 4-5” a year, forming a thick groundcover of leaves that holds its own against weeds. Bears long sprays of pale yellow flowers with spurs nearly equal in length to the inner-sepals are produced above leaflets flushed red in spring. 10" tall in bloom. Semi-evergreen leaves. Drought-tolerant.
Epimedium x versicolor 'Versicolor'
E. versicolor x ‘Versicolor’ (Cc. 890006)
(syn. E. x versicolor 'Discolor')
Quite rare in gardens, this has long been one of our favorite clones. Delicate flowers open a deep, rich pink-salmon, and fade over the course of several days. Large panicles of flowers hover above leaflets strongly flushed with red in spring. It spreads 4 to 5" a year forming a gorgeous mass of riotous color in spring. 14" tall. Early bloomer and drought-tolerant. Very similar to E. x versicolor 'Cupreum' in appearance and habit. Semi-evergreen.
