| Notes: | Epimedium grandiflorum ( Bishop's Hat, Longspur Epimedium ) Native to the Orient from China to Korea & Japan, this is the most common Epimedium. It forms a very attractive, vigorous groundcover once established, reaching up to 3.5 feet in width. The divided, deciduous, light spiny, foliage is up to 14 inches in height. The leaves are coppery red when young, turning to light green. The leaflets are up to 5 x 4 inches in size. Many of the cultivars produce an additional flush of taller leaves after blooming is finished. The flowers vary in size depending on variety but may range up to 2 or rarely 3 inches in size with long spurs up to an inch in length. This species prefers acidic to neutral soil ( no worries if you have alkaline soil...many other species are native to limestone outcrops and alkaline soils and can be used instead ). Finely shredded oak leaves make a good winter mulch. Hardy zones 3 to 8. One of the best groundcover plants for the shade, the Epimedium is tolerant of deep shade and also extreme drought. It even competes well with tree roots forming anything from dense mounds to widespread groundcover. Many Epimediums can spread to as much as 10 feet however this may take many decades and they are easily contained. While taking up to 3 years to fully establish, the Epimediums are among the lowest maintenance plants that exists. They are virtually immune to pests, disease and deer, rabbits, voles and can last 100 years or more. They even grow well in ompetition with dense tree roots. |
