Epimedium nursery

[Saori]

Mark, I just received mail from Karen saying that she will put me on her mailing list and she told me that she will not have E. campanulatum for sale this year, but she will have E. platypetalum. I found a Japanese blog that is written by an Epimedium enthusiast which discusses how they crossed platypetalum with Yubae (夕映) and came up with a very pretty flower. (I'm not sure that I can list the link without their permission here, so if anyone is interested in seeing the page, please PM me.)

Your picture of Arisaema sikokianum and E. campanulatum is wonderful! That's a woodland garden dream!

[WimB]

Do you know if there's a society (or group) which is responsible for the registration of Eppie cultivar names? Like the one which is responsible for the names of bulbs (http://www.kavb.nl/)?

Don't think there is a registration authority for Epimedium yet, I wonder about this myself.  At the very least, I want to create a web page that has every species and named cultivar reference that I can find, with links to as many images as possible. Maybe I should start an Epimedium Society 

That's an idea

I have found smaller plants quite difficult to establish and grow on; once they get going though they make very strong and dramatic plants.

Tim, I'm surprised to hear this, as I find Epimedium seedlings among the easiest and most resilient and forgiving seedlings of all.  I dig up self-sown ones all the time, throwing them into a cup bare-rooted, until I get a chance to pot them up of plant them out.  I have done this with perhaps a couple thousand seedlings over the last several years, they never miss a beat, never droop or seem the least bit concerned.  I have shown these following two photos before, but I rough-handle these little Epimedium babies all the time.

I've had the same experience as Tim....maybe something climatological?

[McDonough]

Mark, I just received mail from Karen saying that she will put me on her mailing list and she told me that she will not have E. campanulatum for sale this year, but she will have E. platypetalum. I found a Japanese blog that is written by an Epimedium enthusiast which discusses how they crossed platypetalum with Yubae (夕映) and came up with a very pretty flower. (I'm not sure that I can list the link without their permission here, so if anyone is interested in seeing the page, please PM me.)

Your picture of Arisaema sikokianum and E. campanulatum is wonderful! That's a woodland garden dream!

Saori, to the best of my knowledge there's no restrictions to posting URLs or links, so feel free to post a link to the blog site showing a hybrid between E. platypetalum and grandiflorum 'Yubae', we're all anxious to see it... I'm curious to learn whether gthe spurless flower form is preserved or do the flowers gain spurs from Yubae.  Here's a link to Epimedium 'Yokihi' on the Plant Delight's pages, a delightful color combination, a hybid of E. davidii x grandiflorum 'Yubae'.  As soon as I get my tax return, I'm placing a Plant Delight's Nursery order (mostly eppies).
http://www.plantdelights.com/Epimedium-Yokihi-Yokihi-Fairy-Wings/productinfo/8104/

From 2010 hand pollination and resulting seed, I do have some E. campanulatum hybrid seedlings coming along, we'll see if I get anything interesting.  Also, several seedlings appeared close to the mother plants, they went unnoticed, so they're already at about a 2-year size, they should bloom this spring.

Thanks for the comments about my garden, it has its moments, in selected vignettes, in other areas is quite the mess.

[Tim Ingram]

Mark - the main problem I have had has been establishing divisions of named varieties even though they have had quite good root systems. The one time, perhaps stupidly, I tried to divide the white form of Jeffersonia dubia, I had the same problem, and I have assumed since that many of these plants resent root disturbance. I have grown Jeffersonia from seed in pots on the nursery well, but it's not too vigorous in the garden - we may get too dry in the summer at times. I am getting a bit more success between the apples (which are smaller and deeper rooting than other trees in the garden), where I have also put copious compost down. I would certainly like to persevere with the epis because they are fascinating plants, and often have such intriguing foliage. I will watch out for your potential webpage! (We haven't had much in the way of self-sown seedlings, perhaps because our garden is not ideal, but I have tried planting different forms of the same species adjacent to one another with the hope of getting good seed set. It must be very exciting to see some of the hybrids that arise when you grow such a range of plants).

[RickR]

Although I have never divided a Jeffersonia, both species' seedlings are incredibly forgiving for me.  Compared to most plants, they seem to have a much larger root system per leaf area, especially at this stage.

I have about the same amount of annual precipitation as you, Tim, and with temps reaching at least 95F (35C) every year.  It would seem there is something more in play for you than just those conditions...

[Saori]

Saori, to the best of my knowledge there's no restrictions to posting URLs or links, so feel free to post a link to the blog site showing a hybrid between E. platypetalum and grandiflorum 'Yubae', we're all anxious to see it... I'm curious to learn whether gthe spurless flower form is preserved or do the flowers gain spurs from Yubae.  Here's a link to Epimedium 'Yokihi' on the Plant Delight's pages, a delightful color combination, a hybid of E. davidii x grandiflorum 'Yubae'.  As soon as I get my tax return, I'm placing a Plant Delight's Nursery order (mostly eppies).
http://www.plantdelights.com/Epimedium-Yokihi-Yokihi-Fairy-Wings/productinfo/8104/

Here is the link that I was talking about:
http://iroha.s7.xrea.com/ep/log/eid146.html It is a very pretty flower and I really like it! I would definitely buy it if I could find it for sale...

From 2010 hand pollination and resulting seed, I do have some E. campanulatum hybrid seedlings coming along, we'll see if I get anything interesting.  Also, several seedlings appeared close to the mother plants, they went unnoticed, so they're already at about a 2-year size, they should bloom this spring.

I was wondering if your E. campanulatum hybrid seedling is a spurless flower form... I'm very much looking forward to seeing them as well!

[McDonough]

Thanks for the link Saori, it clearly shows a unique hybrid of E. platypetalum, spurless flowers but with delicate creamy cups and pink-red sepals; delightful!  Has this hybrid been named?  Other than the E. campanulatum seedling plant I showed (which looks just like a regular E. campanulatum), my other seedlings from this parent have not bloomed yet, I expect this year (2012) will be the first flowering.

[WimB]

Wonderful plant, Saori. Very beautiful. Thanks for sharing the link!

Mark, I'm looking forward to some pics of your E. campanulatum seedlings!