Epimedium - DIG IT! Magazine

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May 2007

Epimedium

Leonard J. Buck Garden, Far Hills, NJ
Epimediums are low-growing, spreading perennials with heart-shaped or arrow-shaped leaflets and are excellent groundcovers for shade. In spring spurred and saucer-shaped flowers are borne on delicate, wiry stems. Each leaflet is finely toothed, emerging green, often tinged with red tones. When you walk through Buck Garden you will notice that Epimediums do best in moist, well-drained soil in light shade, but some will grow in full sun if given adequate water.

While these plants are in bloom for a brief time, the leaves remain neat and tidy until winter. Many epimediums are evergreen, holding on to their leaves until the new growth in spring appears. In late winter we cut down the stiff, mature foliage so that the spring flowers can be seen easily. This must be done before the flower stalks begin to rise. You do not want to cut off the young flowering stems along with the old foliage.

Epimedium/s common names are barrenwort and bishop/s cap. Barrenwort refers to the ability the plant was once thought to have to prevent conception, and bishop's cap because of the shape of its flowers.

Some of the species you can see growing in Buck Garden are Epimedium grandiflorum, E. pinnatum, subspecies colchicum, E. x rubrum, E. youngianum, 'Niveum' and E. x versicolor 'Sulphureum.'

In spring the large, long-spurred flowers of E. grandiflorum grow on the rock outcropping, Horseshoe Rock. Its clumps of reddish foliage turn to dark green in the summer. Its flowers are purplish-pink with white spurs. E. grandiflorum grows 12 inches tall, slowly spreading to 12 inches wide.

E. x rubrum, red barrenwort, also grows 12 x 12 inches and has dense, mid-green heart-shaped leaves tinged with red. The leaves turn pale green in summer and coppery red and yellow in autumn. The flowers are a rose-red with white, slightly up-curved spurs. This attractive groundcover can be seen flourishing above Big Rock and on Epimedium Path.

E. youngianum 'Niveum' is smaller in habit with a height of 4-8 inches and a 12-inch spread. The leaves of this compact epimedium are flushed with reddish pink in spring, turning to mid-green in the summer. The flowers are pure white and sometimes spurred. Find E. youngianum 'Niveum' in the Azalea Field.

E. x versicolor 'Sulphureum' has flowers of pale yellow on the inside and darker yellow on the outside on 14-inch stems. The heart-shaped leaflets are flushed with bronze in spring, medium green in summer. You can find it above Big Rock, and in the Azalea Field.

E. pinnatum subspecies colchicum spreads fast, growing 12 x 18 inches, making it a great groundcover. The large, wavy leaves are glossy and almost evergreen, and the large flowers are a strong yellow with tiny brown spurs. This species is most tolerant of summer heat and drought, and you can see it edging its way down Epimedium Path.

Epimediums are easily grown plants and have outstanding garden value. They are long-lived perennials that can be used in rock, or woodland gardens, as borders or groundcovers. They adapt to a variety of soil conditions and many are evergreen and drought resistant.

- Tricia Scibilia, interpretive gardener

Leonard J. Buck Garden, Somerset County Park System: www.somersetcountyparks.org/

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