Epimedium
Epimedium spp. and hybrids
Type: Perennial
Blooms: Pink, white, yellow, red, burgundy, orange or lavender starburst-shaped blooms in early spring
Light: Part to full shade
Soil: Moist, well-drained
Pests: None serious; deer-resistant
Size: 6 to 24 in. tall, 6 to 36 in. wide
Hardiness: Cold hardy USDA zones 4 to 9
Epimediums kick off spring!
When other perennials haven’t shown the slightest intention of emerging or are just peeking through the soil in spring, epimedium is up and at ’em. Its dainty starburst blooms create a cloud of color that draws you out to the garden even on chilly days. Once the flowers are done, there’s often a second flush of colorful spring leaves as plants begin to form a tidy mound of foliage for summer. Many varieties end the season with a brilliant fall show, and some are evergreen in mild winter areas. Easy to grow, deer resistant and drought tolerant once established, this underappreciated shade perennial has so much to offer!
Epimedium thrives in shady gardens
More than 50 species of epimedium (also called barrenwort) thrive in the woodlands and shaded rocky areas of Asia, Europe and North Africa. Most gardeners grow hybrids or the easy-to-find species available at nurseries — there are lots to choose from. Karen Perkins, retired owner of Garden Vision Epimediums, has cultivated this shade-loving perennial for decades. She says, “I love epimediums for their unique and delicate beauty, toughness and versatility. They’re easy to grow, so they work not only for beginning gardeners but also for collectors of the weird and wonderful.” Though no longer selling plants, Karen maintains her website to share all the information on different varieties and growing tips that she’s compiled over the years.
Enjoy dainty flowers with unique spurs
Epimedium is most known for its spidery blooms with long nectar- filled spurs like those of ‘Pierre’s Purple’ at left. But there are also flowers with short spurs and large sepals, such as ‘Sulphureum’, and a few, such as bell-shaped ‘Lemon Zest’, with almost no spurs at all.
There are lots of flower colors and even bicolor blooms. ‘Flame Thrower’ combines raspberry pink and pale yellow, while ‘Purple Prince’ is deep purple with white spur tips. ‘Arctic Wings’ is solid white.
Epimedium has interesting foliage in different seasons
In spring, epimedium has small leaflets that accompany the flowers, while larger, mature leaves begin to fill in from the crown. By summer, spring coloration fades and plants form a mound of pest- and disease-resistant foliage that doesn’t require pruning to maintain a neat appearance throughout the growing season. Deciduous ‘Pierre’s Purple’ (above) loses its foliage after the first hard frost, but semi-evergreen types stay colorful into early winter, and evergreen ones keep going into spring.
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Meet the epimedium family
Though not as widely known as shade classics such as hosta and impatiens, epimedium deserves more attention. It’s tougher than those charming little blooms might suggest and has a range of interesting flower and foliage colors, sizes and shapes. Although with new varieties coming to the market every year, there’s likely to be a wider selection than ever at your local garden center, you’ll still find even more options through mail-order nurseries. The three sources below have especially broad offerings.
Older varieties and species tend to have small blooms that sit below the leaves, where they’re harder to see. In recent years plant breeders have been working to develop eye-catching colors and larger, longer-lasting blooms that sit high above the foliage. Check out the lineup below to see a selection of epimediums that will look great in your shade garden!
‘Pink Champagne’ (Epimedium hybrid)
Blooms: Soft pink-spurred flower with a raspberry pink cup-shaped center in mid- to late spring
Foliage: Elongated evergreen leaves are speckled purple in spring; clumping
Size: 18 to 24 in. tall, 24 to 36 in. wide
Hardiness: Cold hardy in USDA zones 5 to 8
‘Domino’ (Epimedium hybrid)
Blooms: Ivory-spurred flower with a maroon center cup in spring
Foliage: Elongated, spiny evergreen leaves have purple splashes in spring; clumping
Size: 18 to 24 in. tall, 24 to 36 in. wide
Hardiness: Cold hardy in USDA zones 5 to 8
‘Sandy Claws’ (Epimedium wushanense)
Blooms: Cream-spurred flower with a yellow cup-shaped center in early spring
Foliage: Elongated, spiny evergreen leaves are deep maroon in spring; spreading
Size: 12 to 16 in. tall, spreading
Hardiness: Cold hardy in USDA zones 5 to 8
‘Cranberry Dancer’ (Epimedium hybrid)
Blooms: Cranberry red and yellow-spurred flower with a red center in mid- to late spring
Foliage: Serrated evergreen leaves have a bronzy overlay in spring; clumping
Size: 18 to 24 in. tall, 24 to 36 in. wide
Hardiness: Cold hardy in USDA zones 5 to 8
‘Orange Queen’ (Epimedium x warleyense)
(Also sold as ‘Orangekönigin’)
Blooms: Unusual orange flowers in early spring
Foliage: Heart-shaped evergreen leaves blush red in spring; spreading
Size: 8 to 10 in. tall, spreading
Hardiness: Cold hardy in USDA zones 5 to 9
‘Sulphureum’ (Epimedium x versicolor)
Blooms: Pale yellow flower center with short sepals and spurs in early spring
Foliage: Heart-shaped semi-evergreen foliage is tinted red in spring and fall;
spreading
Size: 8 to 10 in. tall, spreading
Hardiness: Cold hardy in USDA zones 5 to 9
‘Dark Beauty’ (Epimedium grandiflorum)
Blooms: White long-spurred flower with rose sepals and center in early spring
Foliage: Heart-shaped deep purple deciduous leaves in spring; clumping
Size: 10 to 12 in. tall, 10 to 18 in. wide
Hardiness: Cold hardy in USDA zones 5 to 8
‘Lilafee’ (Epimedium grandiflorum)
Blooms: Purple-spurred flower with white tips and a purple center in mid- to late spring
Foliage: Heart-shaped deciduous leaves are dusky purple in spring; clumping
Size: 12 to 18 in. tall, 9 to 18 in. wide
Hardiness: Cold hardy in USDA zones 5 to 8
Epimedium Plant Sources
- Dancing Oaks, dancingoaks.com, 503-838-6058
- Fieldstone Gardens, fieldstonegardens.com
- Sebright Gardens, sebrightgardens.com, 503-463-9615
