I start out with a couple web links I found, showing Epimedium in the wild in China. This particular site has 5 species listed; I'm featuring two of their links. The first is to Epimedium brevicornu, with some nice photos:
E. brevicornu:
http://www.gaolongxiao.com/chinese/product/product_view.asp?productid=1083
Next is E. grandiflorum:
http://www.gaolongxiao.com/chinese/product/product_view.asp?productid=1086
The site also shows a plant listed as E. pubigerum, but the photos themselves have watermark captions as Epimedium hunanense, yet the photo depict neither species! Looks more like the starry white flowers of E. stellulatum or pubescens (my guess is, it resulted from confusion between the similar names of pubigerum and pubescens. The moral is, doesn't trust everything found on the internet; lots of bogus misinformation out there.
Comments
Geo F-W (not verified)
Re: Epimedium 2012
Sun, 03/11/2012 - 8:31amAbsolutely. He earned many nice selections. Thierry sells one of them, 'ML405' aka 'Ghent Orange', nice one.
Yes indeed, it's 'Splendide White', it's a really big one, more than 1,50 meters. A beautiful selection of 'Splendide'. But I don't have any photo of it.
He has 23 Thalictrums to its catalog yet.
It's 'Purple Rain' on my photo Mark, 'Splendide' is paler.
Geo F-W (not verified)
Re: Epimedium 2012
Sun, 03/11/2012 - 8:34amAs Wim, never seen IRL.
Maybe Koen actually test it indeed, he should be asked.
I'll ask to Thierry.
WimB (not verified)
Re: Epimedium 2012
Sun, 03/11/2012 - 9:00amIndeed, that one I know!! Daniëlle grows it too!
Yes, that's the one, both are on my "to buy" list for this year, they are "splendid" :rolleyes: :rolleyes: ;D
WimB (not verified)
Re: Epimedium 2012
Sun, 03/11/2012 - 9:01amI'll ask Koen, Daniëlle doesn't grow it, of that I'm sure!
WimB (not verified)
Re: Epimedium 2012
Sun, 03/11/2012 - 10:46amThis is what Koen says about this plant (which he doesn't grow!):
"E. elatum is not garden worthy according to Mikinori Ogisu, who went to see the plant in the wild in Kashmir. There's one plant of this species in Kew Gardens, where it is slowly dying! Don't waste any energy on trying to grow this one!"
Mark McDonough
Re: Epimedium 2012
Sun, 03/18/2012 - 8:47amProbably true, the link I gave showing the plant in flower, shows that the flowers are virtually insignificant, but the foliage is very attractive, crinkly textured, and of course, a tall stature.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/arifk11/5387549964/in/photostream/
In terms of hybridization, the wider the gene pool the better, and sometimes a surprising characteristic can be imparted to hybrid progeny. Case in point, this winter was a nearly snowless winter, thus a true test of the "evergreen" characteristic on the various epimediums listed as being evergreen. Most did not fair too well this year, even E. wushanense became totally browned. So, last weekend I took stock of which ones remained evergreen in reasonable form, and trimmed all the browned foliage off the others, only the following had foliage unfazed by winter dessication: ilicifolium, sp. "the Giant", a davidii hybrid (not davidiii itself), brachyrrhizum, stellulatum, and all of my E. membranaceum x brevicornu hybrids!
It is surprising that the hybrids would be so reliably evergreen, when membranaceum foliage mostly behaves "semi-evergreen" here and brevicornu is deciduous. Not sure why these hybrids are so winter resilient, but I'm not complaining.:DHmmm, there is a possibility that my estimate of the putative E. membranaceum x brevicornu hybrids is in error; now seeing the E. stellulatum over-wintered foliage. The seedlings were self-sown ones, found directly under the canopy of a large E. brevicornu plant, with E. membrananceum growing so close to it that flowert stems intertwined. My hybrid plants are 4-5 yrs old now, and at that time, while I had E. stellulatum, it was planted far away in another part of the garden, and it was only a few years ago I moved that plant closer to where brevicornu and membranaceum are located. Logistically, it seems unlikely that stellulatum was involved, but I can't rule out what the bees might do. So, I'll take a closer look this year to determine whethjer my plants are membranaceum x brevicornu or membranaceum x stellulatum.
Left: E. brachyrrhizum over-wintered foliage, in great shape.
Right: membranaceum x brevicornu? or x stellulatum?
Mark McDonough
Re: Epimedium 2012
Sun, 03/25/2012 - 8:10amWith an exceptionally early spring, followed by a record-breaking week of warm to hot July-like sunny weather, the epimediums are sending forth spring growth and their initially coiled flower stems. The first to open a few flowers here is typically E. x versicolor 'Versicolor', a few blooms open today, but also beginning to bloom is E. pubescens "Shaanxi form" and E. "Asiatic Hybrid". Now I'm worried about the sudden return to reality, with overnight temperatures predicted to plummet down to 19 F (-7 C) and 25 F in the upcoming couple of days. I have no doubt that those "eppies" with just show tight growth buds will be fine, but those coaxed into soft precocious growth full of buds might be at risk of being whacked by frost.
WimB (not verified)
Re: Epimedium 2012
Mon, 03/26/2012 - 7:08amIn flower here today, the big unknown (not grandiflorum) Epimedium 'Azumino' :-\
Mark McDonough
Re: Epimedium 2012
Mon, 03/26/2012 - 4:55pmHmmm, looks like a typical lavender-ish sempervirens bloom, I find that sempervirens can have more incurved or downturned spurs as compared to grandiflorum, but just a generalization. Was it worth the wait? ;)
WimB (not verified)
Re: Epimedium 2012
Tue, 03/27/2012 - 8:03amNot very special, isn't it?? I'll keep it, but if I had a smaller garden, it's not one I would grow!
Trond Hoy
Re: Epimedium 2012
Tue, 03/27/2012 - 11:37amI had grown it anyway ;D
ErnieC123 (not verified)
Re: Epimedium 2012
Tue, 04/03/2012 - 12:33pmHello to everybody!!!
Because of getting a higher heartbeat watching some of your awesome Epimedium, I joined NARGS. I am also extremely interessted in Epimedium and i have a little collection of them. But it´s hard to find some special ones in germany. Maybe somebody has good ideas for getting more of this exciting plants. I would enjoy that. I am sorry for my english and hope it will be better in the future :-)
Richard T. Rodich
Re: Epimedium 2012
Tue, 04/03/2012 - 6:10pmHello Ernie!
A faster heartbeat is a common occurence here. :D
I can't answer your question, but I wanted to welcome you to the forum. It's great to see international participation!
Your English is perfect. I am always in awe at how well non-native speakers as yourself use the language.
Mark McDonough
Re: Epimedium 2012
Tue, 04/03/2012 - 8:16pmGlad you made it over here Ernie, welcome to the forum. In addition to your interest in Epimedium, I hope that you'll start a topic on Hosta and show us some of your hybrids :)
After a false start here this year, with two weeks of unbelievable summer-in-winter temperatures that pushed some epimediums prematurely into growth, some of them got "whacked" by deep freezing that followed. They will recover, just some buds and foliage lost, but they'll leaf out again. After the heat, we returned to more normal cool weather, with nightly cold temperatures or freezing, keeping growth in check.
Today I was home after my car broke down and put into the shop for repair, but it was sunny and warmed up to 50 F (10 c) for a wonderful spring day. The epimediums are erupting into growth, with buds just ready to expand.
One of the first to bloom is always E. x versicolor 'Versicolor', still too early to enjoy full bloom, but the expanding flowers buzzed by nectar seeking bees, with various colors of Corydalis solida growing intertwined with the epimedium shoots, made for an enjoyable garden contemplation.
Many are not photogenic at this point (because they're hard to photograph), from the dry winter remains of epimedium clumps emerge dozens of hairy croziers of flower stems. Even the shiny-leaved species tend to be very hairy when first emerging. Shown here is a hybrid between E. grandiflorum f. flavescens 'La Rocaille' and E. grandiforum 'Larchmont'.
Case in point, the shiny leaved E. sempervirens species, when first emerging, shows hairy shoots. In this photo is E. sempervirens 'White Purity' shows expanding initially hairy foliage and expanding buds.
Trond Hoy
Re: Epimedium 2012
Wed, 04/04/2012 - 12:41amHello Ernie! As Germany is a member of EU it shouldn't be too difficult or complicated for you to find some nurseries! It is worse for me in Norway needing plant health certificate for everything :-\
Trond Hoy
Re: Epimedium 2012
Wed, 04/04/2012 - 12:44amMark, you know how to turn the knife in the wound! ..Just kidding but I am jealous. One day I hope to get at least some more Epps in my garden!
gerrit (not verified)
Re: Epimedium 2012
Wed, 04/04/2012 - 9:54amHello Ernie
Well, there is a wonderful thread on Epimedium here on the NARGS-forum. But I have to say to you, there is another forum with Epimedium-fanatics, the VRV-forum, people from Flanders and The Netherlands.
I would say to you: Join the VRV-forum and write in German, we'll answer in Dutch and share your knowledge with us. http://www.vrvforum.be/forum/index.php?topic=610.0
Mark, it's unusual to have Epimediums blooming so early in Mass. Here in Holland, I have the first flowers showing on my E. x versicolor 'Versicolor' indeed. But the emerging Epimediums everywhere in the garden, it is maybe the most exiting part of the fun, growing Epimediums.
ErnieC123 (not verified)
Re: Epimedium 2012
Wed, 04/04/2012 - 2:20pmThanks you all for wellcome me !
Of course in germany there is no certification horror here. But in germany the special nursery for epimedium is rare in germany. I know some of those nursery, but the rare epimedium (like some asiatic nature plants), i will not get here. I am newly in contact to Het Houten and Van Poucke nurseries, so i will get some nice one, when the time is right. Het Houten sends also in april but van Poucke doesn´t. So i maybe have to wait till autumn.
An other problem is that some of the Epimedium i bought , where wrong :-( S*** happens :-) ).
I am really excited from those Epimedium pics Geo F-W has sent in here! All sorts i never heard before! Where is this nursery of paradis? Can somebody help???
I am also excited about the foliage of all pics of you all. They seem to be so vital and without foliage dots (How do you call : fungal problem???). Do you use chemical helpers???
Yesterday i got new E.epsteinii (my old one died in the garden) and an asiatic hybrid. I like to see the asiatic in flower!
I will start to take some Fotos when the time is right !
ErnieC123 (not verified)
Re: Epimedium 2012
Wed, 04/04/2012 - 2:25pmPardon? What Hosta hybrids? I have only some Hosta to fill my garden :-)
Mark McDonough
Re: Epimedium 2012
Wed, 04/04/2012 - 6:13pmSorry Ernie, I confused your email with someone else's email that also contacted me about the forum and Epimediums.
gerrit (not verified)
Re: Epimedium 2012
Thu, 04/05/2012 - 7:42amEmerging foliage of Epimedium with sparkling sunlight.
ErnieC123 (not verified)
Re: Epimedium 2012
Thu, 04/05/2012 - 12:27pmToday i wanna send some pictures ...
I start with a Seedling close to his first blooming
Now i want to show you an Aconitum hemsleyanum 'Red Wine' (short before starting to climb)
Brunnera 'Jack Frost' - I like this plant
This Caulophyllum thalictroides has awesome leaves and a nice built
And last but not least - here comes Dicentra cucullaria
ErnieC123 (not verified)
Re: Epimedium 2012
Thu, 04/05/2012 - 1:29pmIs there no way to get it without those certificate? Do they screen all packages?
Trond Hoy
Re: Epimedium 2012
Thu, 04/05/2012 - 10:30pmI think they screen all, or almost all packages. A few times some can slip through but I do not count on that. Even small parcels from friends are checked.
Geo F-W (not verified)
Re: Epimedium 2012
Fri, 04/06/2012 - 4:39amWell Ernie, as I said to you by PM, the nursery is in France and there is no mail order.
But I am always available to send by airmail, I live near the nursery.
I'll post new pictures soon because this weekend held the first open days devoted to Epimedium, so I would take a certain amount of pictures...
It will be for next week because I am going to discover the spring flora of Andalusia on Tuesday. ^^
This one is new in my collection, with beautiful very very small flowers.
I like this one, new too, because it's high with a beautiful color. On the second photo (n°6), on the left, there is an hybrid of 'The Giant', very high, but not yet in bloom...
Mark McDonough
Re: Epimedium 2012
Fri, 04/06/2012 - 11:04amErnie, always exciting to see the first bloom on a seedling epimedium. I have many in bud too, but they're holding back until it gets a bit warmer. Show us again when the flowers open. Do you have an idea about what parents might be involved?
Gerrit, there's nothing happier than a freshly sprouting epimedium garden, the leaves are nearly translucent and virtually glow when backlit with sun. I agree that the foliage might be the most exciting part of growing Epimediums.
Geoffrey, looks like your season is the most advanced. I do like the "very very" small flowered hybrid with hot coral colored flowers, the upright branching flower stems present the little flowers well.
Some of my too-early-sprouting epimediums got whacked by hard freezing after our unusual summer-like weather last month, but they'll all recover. Yes, E. versicolor 'Versicolor' is always among the earliest for me, I upload another photo as the flowers fill in and create a 60 cm wide bouquet of soft peach and yellow. Also shown, is a flat of E. grandiflorum 'Circe' open-pollinated seed that was sown summer 2011, germinating well.
ErnieC123 (not verified)
Re: Epimedium 2012
Fri, 04/13/2012 - 9:12amI like this one : Epimedium pallidum
And now i have got a problem. This is called Epimedium grandiflorum D23, but it is evergreen (???) and flowers yellow (???)
Maybe somebody can help me, what it is....
Lori S. (not verified)
Re: Epimedium 2012
Fri, 04/13/2012 - 11:50amHi, Ernie,
What was your source for Epimedium pallidum? Apparently, it is not actually a valid species name. I got what was indicated as Epimedium pallidum from Fraser's Thjimble Farms some years ago (and they still list this "species" in their catalogue), however, it was later identified by Ms. Probst as Epimedium x versicolor
perralchicum'SulphureumFrohnleiten'. I'm just wondering what is floating around under this odd name?ErnieC123 (not verified)
Re: Epimedium 2012
Fri, 04/13/2012 - 12:02pmI have it from a nursery in germany, where i work. But i don't know where we have it from. I am sorry(i will ask my chef). But i am 100% sure that it isn't a 'Frohnleiten'. Problems with names i know too. That's really disgusting. I hate wrong named plants.
Mark McDonough
Re: Epimedium 2012
Sat, 04/14/2012 - 4:15amIt has also been discussed on SRGC Forum, regarding what Epimedium "pallidum" actually is. The one thing for certain, there is no Epimedium species named pallidum. Typically it is a misnomer for E. x versicolor 'Sulphureum'.
http://www.srgc.org.uk/forum/index.php?topic=3374.msg87326#msg87326
Epimedium "pallidum" is E. x versicolor 'Sulphureum'
My discussion on the name "pallidum". Note: the name is also misapplied as a cultivar of grandiflorum; as E. grandiflorum 'Pallidum'.
http://www.srgc.org.uk/forum/index.php?topic=4769.msg131282#msg131282
Ernie, in your first photo above, the plant certainly looks like E. x versicolor 'Sulphureum'.
The one that was labeled as "Epimedium grandiflorum D23" is not an E. grandiflorum type, but I'm fairly certain it is E. franchetii, although it could also be the similar species E. chlorandrum.
Lori S. (not verified)
Re: Epimedium 2012
Sat, 04/14/2012 - 9:05amOh, yes, Mark. My "E. pallidum" was actually ID'd as E. x versicolor 'Sulphureum'. (I was going off memory and got it wrong.)
gerrit (not verified)
Re: Epimedium 2012
Mon, 04/16/2012 - 8:28amA view on my Epimedium-row. Underneath a part of my fern collection, still dormant.
Mark McDonough
Re: Epimedium 2012
Mon, 04/16/2012 - 12:54pmLooking good there Gerrit, with your eppies raised up like that, it must provide good viewing for those species with shy of semi-concealed flowers. Do your ferns grow up and over the eppies, are they planted this way to provide shade for the epimediums in summer? I'd really like to see the same view when the ferns fronds are aloft, good dual use of space to have eppies in bloom while ferns are still dormant.
Zonedenial (not verified)
Re: Epimedium 2012
Mon, 04/16/2012 - 10:00pmOut of about 75 varieties in our garden, E. Pink Champagne may be my favorite; lovely colors, large flowers, nicely spotted foliage, and a long time in bloom.
gerrit (not verified)
Re: Epimedium 2012
Tue, 04/17/2012 - 12:20amGood to have another Epimedium lover on the forum. Wellcome!
Your start, with that wonderful "Pink Champagne' is a very good start, because it's one of the species which are not available in Western Europe, as far as I know. And I am jealous like hell.
gerrit (not verified)
Re: Epimedium 2012
Tue, 04/17/2012 - 3:15amWright Mark, 'space-sharing' in my garden. I have an open sunny garden with less shade.
In summer when the ferns reach their maximum size I have to cut some leaves indeed. I planned the size of ferns and the size of Epimediums. Some large ones like the wushanenses, are combined with the big ferns.
Here a picture from Oct 26 2011, a general view from my first floor and behind the Acer you see the ferns.
Richard T. Rodich
Re: Epimedium 2012
Tue, 04/17/2012 - 9:08amReally nice epimediums, everyone. My few are not that photogenic yet.
Welcome to the forum, Don! Glad to see you state-side. ;D You must have a wonderful garden, with all those epimediums and snowdrops, and all the other things you grow. We'd love to see them all!
Your very special seed arrived yesterday. Thank you so much!
Trond Hoy
Re: Epimedium 2012
Tue, 04/17/2012 - 11:50amSeconded! Some have started flowering today, or better I noticed the blooming today. Had some sun and nice (for me - that is +10C and no wind) temperature.
I got hold of a new plant yesterday, E. wushanense 'Sandy Claws' :) Hope it will grow here!
Mark McDonough
Re: Epimedium 2012
Tue, 04/17/2012 - 7:38pmGerrit, your photo shows well the dual-use garden space planting with ferns and eppies. Your garden is beautiful, with the sloping rock garden and serene pool, anchored with a Japanese maple (what variety is it; Japanese maples is another area I could be totally caught up with, oh brother!).
Don, welcome to the forum, and particularly to the Epimedium topic :). Having 75 species and varieties is a good start ;) (actually, that's a pretty darn good collection). Is the photo of 'Pink Champagne' from this year or a previous year. My 'Pink Champagne' is just emerging, although 'Domino', a few feet away, and from the same cross, is starting to flower.
Here are a couple "eppie" views, the first showing a garden view with E. brachyrrhizum in the background, and the second is a closeup view of the same species.
Mark McDonough
Re: Epimedium 2012
Tue, 04/17/2012 - 8:03pmThe current heat wave has brought on Epimedium growth and flowering with such speed, that day by day it's hard to keep up, particularly now during the work week. In no particular order, I have a cavalcade of photos to show, tis epimedium season.
Epimedium x 'Amanogawa' - one of the best and most unique Asiatic hybrids.
E. 'Sunshowers', a beautiful light yellow hybrid from Far Reaches Farm and introduced by Darrell Probst.
E. pinnatum ssp. colchicum - an evergreen species with bright yellow spikes of bloom.
E. x warleyense - the red-orange epimedium, I get best flowering and deepest flower and leaf color when grown in full sun.
E. x warleyense 'Orangekonigin' - from the same cross (E. alpinum x pinnatum ssp. colchicum), similar but with paler soft salmon orange flowers.
E. grandiflorum 'Red Queen' is an impressive giant grandiflorum, my plant nearly 4' across x 2-1/2' tall.
I get lots and lots of hybrid seedlings, most are not worthy of naming, but are certainly nice additions to the garden; here's one such hybrid. It has the purple banded foliage of E. grandiflorum v. higoense 'Bandit', but with large white flowers tinged lavender. It is
staying compact with large flowers well presented above the foliage.
One of the many hybrid seedlings here, I love watching them bloom for the first time, and watching in subsequent years 3 and 4, to see how they clump up and develop. Here's one with nice deep color flowers with a diffuse white stripe down the middle of each sepal.
Epimedium x versicolor 'Versicolor' is among the first to bloom, but keeps on going in subtle profusion of pastel peach flowers and bronze-toned foliage.
gerrit (not verified)
Re: Epimedium 2012
Wed, 04/18/2012 - 8:27amAcer palmatum 'Dissectum'. I grow some more maples in my garden. Like you I am fond of this genus.
Of all Epimediums you showed, I like these two most. The purple bandage, the small size (I presume) and the 'large' flowers above the foliage. Very special indeed. Maybe better than "Bandit" or 'Saturn", which are rather problematic species. Although in my garden. Both die in a second, when exposed to the summersun and grown in deep shade, they don't appreciate that.
Some Epimediums in bloom in my garden today.
1. Epimedium 'Togen'
2 and 3. Epimedium fargesi 'Pink Costellation.
4 and 5. Epimedium 'Black Sea'.
gerrit (not verified)
Re: Epimedium 2012
Wed, 04/18/2012 - 9:10amProblems with transmitting pictures. The pictures belong to reply 91.
1. Epimedium 'Togen'
2 and 3. Epimedium fargesi 'Pink Constellation'
4 and 5. Epimedium 'Black Sea'.
Lockwood (not verified)
Re: Epimedium 2012
Wed, 04/18/2012 - 9:13amMark - all beautiful!
I love your hybrids - "Lady Bandit" or "Blushing Bandit". ;D
And "Candy Stripe" 8)
Gerrit - which epimedium is shown in pics 2 & 3? Very nice!
Mark McDonough
Re: Epimedium 2012
Wed, 04/18/2012 - 10:29amJulie, I like the names "Lady Bandit" or "Blushing Bandit" ;D
My regular E. fargesii is also in bloom, not showy but certainly distinctive
Gerrit: do you know if E. fargesii 'Pink Constellation' is a pinkish-flowered selection from the wild, or a garden hybrid?
Epimedium fargesii:
WimB (not verified)
Re: Epimedium 2012
Sun, 04/22/2012 - 10:19amEppi's are really starting to flower over here!
Epimedium grandiflorum 'Dark Beauty'
Epimedium 'Perrine's White'
Epimedium epsteinii
Epimedium x sasakii
Epimedium x warleyense
Epimedium dolichostemon
Epimedium grandiflorum 'Mukawa Genpei'
Epimedium x youngianum 'Merlin'
Mark McDonough
Re: Epimedium 2012
Sun, 04/22/2012 - 12:42pmWim, looks like your epimedium season is well under way. Your photo of E. youngianum 'Merlin' reminds me that I must replace this one, which I lost in the drought 2 years ago, it's so unique with the inflated shape of the cup.
I tried looking up E. grandiflorum 'Mukawa Genpei' to see a photo, but could find any, the closest I came was a Japanese blog site, showing many Epimedium hybrids and a few species, many of the cosses shown are a study in subtlety. But check out the tons of mind-blowing hepatica hybrids, wow!. About the 3rd photo down is a cross identified as leptorrhizum × ゛Mukawa-Genpei". As usual, you sure find some truly obscure Japanese hybrids ;) This one looks very similar to E. grandiflorum 'Princess Susan'.
http://sainohana.cocolog-nifty.com/blog/2008/03/index.html
Finally after long stretches of warm sunny days, it is cold and rainy today, the rain especially welcome. I worked out in the rain for a couple hours digging and potting 3-year old Epimediums to donate to my local town garden club, and now dried off and inside, I'm relaxing with a cup of hot tea and pouring through the Garden Vision Nursery catalog that came yesterday, must get my order in today. :D This year's focus is mostly to replace a dozen or more varieties I lost during the drought of 2010.
WimB (not verified)
Re: Epimedium 2012
Sun, 04/22/2012 - 12:53pmMerlin is very nice indeed...a super form!
Tatsuo provided this link and told on the SRGC forum that it is called "E. grandiflorum var. thunbergianum '武川源平 = Mukawa (Mugawa) Genpei' ": http://www7b.biglobe.ne.jp/~yamakusa/ika-005.jpg
I find the meaning of the name wonderful!
Finally cold and rainy :o :o :o It's been cold and rainy for two weeks in a row over here! :( :(
I'm looking forward to the GV catalogue too, probably this week!
gerrit (not verified)
Re: Epimedium 2012
Sun, 04/22/2012 - 1:15pmMark, the only thing I know about this, is the registration number Og93023.
Not a very nice photo of Epimedium 'William Stearn'. I'll try to make a better one later.
gerrit (not verified)
Re: Epimedium 2012
Sun, 04/22/2012 - 1:18pmIn spite of confusion with names, I like this grandiflorum "MG" very much.
Merlin is also nice. Always forgotten to buy.
Mark McDonough
Re: Epimedium 2012
Sun, 04/22/2012 - 3:20pmWim, I saw the posting on the SRGC Epimedium topic, but missed clicking the photo link for 'Mukawa Genpei'... a good clear photo. I like those selections that have clear white petals and spurs compared to rich color sepals, such as 'Princess Susan', which 'Mukawa Genpei' resembles.
Gerrit, we all have species and cultivars available on the opposite side of the pond; such is the case with 'William Stearn', wish I could find it here, the foliage mottling is outstanding.
Nearly all the epimediums are in bloom here, so it's impossible to keep up, I've taken many hundreds of photographs, and once the work week hits, I have little time to post. Here's a batch:
A small-flowered hybrid with E. davidii EMR with tiny bright yellow flowers and red-pink sepals, good foliage, high on the cute quotient.
Epimedium grandiflorum 'Circe', one of the more recent (2006) introductions by Darrell Probst, this is among the deepest color forms, with lots of flowers well presented about the foliage. It looks amazing in early bloom, with such dark cranberry red buds.
A grandiflorum hybrid that I have selected, with cherry color two-toned blooms in substantial clusters. Unfortunately, I must have actually planted 2 seedlings instead of just one, as a small-flowered white one is growing intermingled. I shall have to dig it up and feather out the white plant and dispose of it. In the first view, notice all of the self-sown seedlings, possibly because of the mild winter and extra mild spring, thousands upon thousands of epimediums seedlings are cropping up everywhere.
Epimedium sempervirens 'Candy Hearts', really grown for the fabulous glossy red-edged foliage after flowering, this is the first year where it has made a respectable show with its pale flowers. Notice that the flowers of sempervirens have incurved spurs that give a clawed look them.
Epimedium x youngianum 'Murasaki-Juji' is a cute little youngianum type. It was being overgrown by an arborvitae so last year I salvaged the plant and gave it its own unencumbered space.
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