Epimediums

Epimediums are useful quiet plants with delicate flowers in March or April. The new foliage is very attractive with an almost translucent appearance. They provide excellent ground cover in light or dappled shade and have flowers in a wide range of colours from white and yellow to deep pink. The leaves are normally either evergreen or semi-evergreen and should be removed in late winter so that the flowers and the new young leaves can be seen.

These are easy to grow plants in good, deep open soil, which does not get too dry in summer, a mulch of garden compost or leaf mould is helpful in early spring, when the ground is wet. The more robust evergreens tend to tolerate dry shade better than some of the smaller species.

Most Epidmediums grow about 10-15” high and form clumps of around 12-24” wide. The following are the more vigorous, ground cover types and associate well with Pulmonarias, Heucharas and Tiarellas which also need minimum maintenance.

E. x perralchium is a robust evergreen hybrid which produces sunny yellow flowers on tall stems above the glossy green foliage which is initially bronze. Plants retain most of their foliage throughout the year and make tough, effective ground cover.

E. x versicolor has several cultivars in wide colour range including ‘Sulphureum’ with deep yellow flowers. Again these are robust, vigorous plants with attractive foliage.

There are also smaller, more dainty Epimediums which look better in light shade with wood anemones, snowdrops, Erythoniums for example. A more sheltered position is also required. These include:

E. grandiflorum is deciduous with white flowers, a more delicate smaller plant. There are a number of cultivars including ‘Freya’ with deep violet flowers or ‘Rose Queen’ with rose pink flowers.

Epimedium x rubrum has rose tinted leaves in early spring followed by deep pink flowers.

E. x youngianum ‘Niveum’ has pure white flowers and colourful spring foliage.

Division is the usual means of propagation, although they can be grown from seed, sown as soon as it is ripe. Most have woody crowns with a mass of fibrous roots. The best time to split clumps is in a period of mild weather when the plant is dormant or immediately after flowering. Lift the whole clump and shake off excess soil, pull them apart, but try not to sever the dormant buds that will make the new season's growth.

CAF