Epimedium 2013

gerrit wrote:

The Epimedium thread on the SRGC is not very impressive

Gerrit, check out the Epimedium 2012 topic on SRGC, it was a busy year that year, 38 pages long:
http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=4769.0

gerrit wrote:

Oh, and I have forgotten to mention Danielle Monbaliu from 'Epimedium Nursery', Oostkamp Belgium. Please have a look on her website.
http://www.epimedium.be/

Hmmm, having some trouble on that website, language links for Nederlands and Francais work but English is not a live link. Using the French link, the plant list is 2011, it is 2012 using the nederlands link, no photos, just a list.  Photos link in the francais link is broken, photo link in nederlands link works, shows an alphabet list of links, but "E" for Epimedium is a broken link.  I'm afraid, not much to see there :-(

In the big horticultural scheme of things, Epimediums are not at all widely grown here in the US either, but they're growing in popularity, I think mostly because the gardening public, who believe nothing grows in shade, is hearing the marketing that these plants can be grown in dry shade.  The other reason why Epimediums are not as grown as widespread as, lets say, Hemerocallis (daylilies), is because they are slower to grow and propagate, and there are very few large scale growers of Epimedium.  Price has lots to do with it too, and these plants are still very expensive to purchase.

So far, have two Epimedium orders sent out, planning on placing at least two more orders, all very exciting, can't wait for spring.

@Tim, I too would love to find Ranzania, its been on my list for a long time.

For those of you on Facebook, there is an active Epimedium Group:
http://www.facebook.com/groups/125709130884970/

Just got my NARGS Seed exchange order.  This year I noticed seed of Epimedium ecalcaratum, about 10 dried seed.  I ordered this as an experiment, with the belief allowing the seed to dry out this way kills the seed.  If I get any germination, I'll report back.

gerrit wrote:

Her website is not remarkable, but her Epimedium list is a good one. 55 items. I have to wait for her 2013 list.

I looked at both the 2011 & 2012 lists, there are some good items on there, and a good long list as you say.  A few are unfamiliar to me, such as the one listed as 'Jean O'Neill'; I looked it up and it's a lovely plant.
http://www.johnjearrard.co.uk/plants/epimedium/epimediumjeanoneill/speci...

And the list does contain lots of Og. (Ogisu) collections, which is special.

Aaron, funny how lives intersect sometimes, and one runs into people in the most unlikely places. And I agree, prices for Epimedium is very high, although now when shopping around, I see some mail order nurseries with plant prices at about $15-$18 a plant versus $28-$35, that helps.  There are many Epimedium species still missing from my collection, because some of the rare species will go for astronomical cost; I'd rather get three $18-$22 dollar epimedium varieties as opposed to one for $60 or $80.  Grow them (hybrids) from seed, and they cost only pennies each  ;)

Here are some more Epimedium nursery resources. Cumulatively, if one were to order from all of the nurseries listed so far, picking and choosing unique species and cultivars, the range of epimedium that can be had might amount 100 different types (of course, if they can be afforded).

Arrowhead Alpines - Michigan, USA
Good selection of 58 Epimedium this year, prices moderate (comparatively) averaging $15-$20
Lots of companion plants too (22 Polygonatum), and of course, rock garden plants.
Three epimedium show the wrong image, and have text questioning the identity; I can verify that
koreanum, davidii, and platypetalum are incorrect, other than that it's an excellent list.
http://www.arrowheadalpines.com/shop/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=65_105

Fairweather Gardens - New Jersey, USA
Another good selection of 48 Epimedium, prices moderate (comparatively) averaging $15-$20
http://www.fairweathergardens.com/genus.php?type=Perennials&genus=Epimedium

Klehm's Song Sparrow Farm and Nursery - Illinois, USA
Only 8 Epimedium, all rather high priced, but has Epimedium ssp. nova 'Spine Tingler' for $26.95
Note: the name is a bit garbled, should be listed as Epimedium sp. nova 'Spine Tingler'; as this is a new unpublished species (thus the sp. or species nova part) that Darrell Probst introduced, but he wanted to be able to offer the plant under some name, so appended a cultivar name following sp. nova.  I bet if this goes uncorrected, a new "ssp. nova" or "subspecies nova" was born. In Europe, the name got further garbled with the almost humorous transmogrification from 'Spine Tingler' to 'Sphinx Twinkler', too funny, can you believe it?
http://www.songsparrow.com/2013/plantlist.cfm?type=SHADE,&startrow=1&pag...

Broken Silo Nursery - Michigan, USA
List has 34 Epimedium, some unusual ones, almost no photos, prices run the gamut from affordable to high price.
http://bsnursery.com/catalog/section_8.html

gerrit wrote:

Many magnificent cutivars at PDN! But oddly pictures.

Gerrit, I meant to respond to this earlier, the thumbnail images on Plant Delights Nursery online catalog look weird, because the "aspect ratio" is squished.  Their web page will take a full size "portrait" (taller than wide) orientated image, and squash it into a square-shaped thumbnail image, so the flowers look stretched and oddly proportioned.  Here's an example, a PDN catalog image of Epimedium 'Pink Champagne', the large portrait image, with the squashed thumbnail image version in the lower right.

That's a good idea Gerrit, swapping offsets from one's choice epimedium for other plants.  The problem I have, is that I hate disturbing established plants, I like to see them build up into big beautiful clumps. In fact, when I to to garden Vision Epimedium "open nursery" days (2 weedkends in May) I often buy repeat plants of some of the less expensive varieties, saving me the trouble of dividing them (and possibly setting them back). 

Three years ago I dug up one big clump of E. membranaceum, split it into three pieces, one piece did okay, while the other two nearly died, taking two years to recover and show some small promising signs of growth, although they're still much smaller than what I started with.  Lesson learned, don't divide "eppies" in mid summer, at least not with the hot summers we can get.

Wow Maggi, that's am impressive number of reads! :o  

It's interesting going back in time and reflecting, that was the year I was unemployed, and for the first time fully experienced my garden from start to finish during the growing season. After 17 months, I found a new job in March 2011, a crazy one with ridiculous demands on my time and much lower pay; I had almost no time to garden, nor time to participate on the forums as I would've liked. Now, I have changed jobs, employed by a "cloud technology" firm, and I work from home (all work is done remotely), no more commuting 3-1/2 hrs daily, and flexible hours, so I'll once again be able to experience the garden, play with hybridizing epimedium, and post here, there, and everywhere ;)

Was sitting on my deck this morning, in a protected corner, having a hot cup of English tea.  Glorious sunshine, up a few degrees from morning low of 5 F (-15 C), at balmy 12 F (-11 C), contemplating my most recent bed of Epimedium seedling plants, in a spot where the ground tends to be blown bare of snow.  Observing the darkened winter foliage on my young epimediums, I'm full of anticipation for spring.  This photo was taken in December 2012, just a month ago, but the plants still look pretty much the same this morning.

Row of evergreen hybrid Epimedium plants, 2-yr seedlings going into third year, hope they bloom this spring.

Thanks Lori, I do hope it will be a great Epimedium year and I'll be able to share it here. 

This year I'm ordering some epimedium from a several sources; thought I'd share what I'm ordering, with a summary of the price, to get a sense of what it costs to buy some Epimedium these days.

Order 1:
1  E. 'Flamingo Dancer'
1  E. 'Hot Lips'
1  E. acuminatum 'Night Mistress'
1  E. elachyphyllum  (had this from Garden Vision, but my plant died over winter)
1  E. mikinorii
1  E. platypetalum  (another replacement, mine died out from drought)
1  E. reticulatum
1  E. x youngianum 'Making Waves'

~$200 with packaging and shipping.
8 Epimedium plants, average cost with shipping:  $25

Order 2:
1  E. acuminatum "Yellow Flower"
2  E. 'Amber Queen'  (2 plants)
1  E. latisepalum
1  E. stellulatum 'Wudang Star'
1  E. grandiflorum 'Purple Pixie'

~$125 with packaging and shipping.
6 Epimedium plants, average cost with shipping:  $21

deesen wrote:

Many congrats. on the new job Mark, hope life will be an awful lot less stressful for you.

Thanks David!  Yes, the stress level will be much more manageable from now on, saving 3-1/2 to 4 hrs a day not having to commute.  Even with a car getting good mileage (Subaru Outback, 30 mpg), I still estimate I spend $3500 per year in gas for all that commuting.  Just think of how many Epimedium that can buy! ;D :o

Tim wrote:

Mark - do you find that you get good establishment of the epimediums you plant? Many that I have had have been pretty small and seem to sit still for ages before getting going (if they do). When they do they go from strength to strength and, like Trond says, I'm quite reluctant to disturb them. Judging by many of the pictures of your garden you must have good conditions for many woodlanders, and maybe we are just a little too dry.

Yes, I find that young epimedium plants establish quickly, although I do prioritize keeping them watered regularly.  The plants purchased at Garden Vision are amazing, sold in tiny square pots, growing in a very porous planting mix composed mostly of bark mulch (the eppies love this), they are always heavily rooted and ready to go. Looking back at my photographic records, the jump in plant size the 2nd & 3rd year is always surprising.  I do think that well rooted eager-to-grow small starts are sometimes better than setting out big potted plants, the larger soil mass can become a self-containing "island", versus the small all-roots "plugs" that are ready to expand in one's native soil.

I've taken a cue from GVE, and plant in a soil mixture that is 50% decomposed bark mulch (pine bark, sometimes a mix with fir bark as well), keep them watered.  At GVE, they plant on steeply mounded soil, which I tried emulating in my garden.  I'm going back to planting them more on the flat because my garden is too dry, and those on the steep incline are more prone to drought.

Hoy wrote:

Regarding dividing plants; I usually do that early spring or late fall. But like you Mark I don't like to disturb settled plants unless they benefit from dividing. Sometimes if a visitor wants a plant I cut off at the edge of the clump with a sharp spade or something without disturbing the whole plant. Should work for eppies too, shouldn't it?

I agree Trond, that's how I have increased my epimedium so far, I just cut away at the edge of a big clump to get a few small pieces, leaving the big clump intact, but even so, its very difficult work, epimediums have such dense & tough roots.  When visiting GVE nursery, the proprietor Karen Perkins is typically sitting at a wheelbarrow dividing epimediums; fascinating to watch.  She uproots the whole plant, shakes off and washes all soil off the roots, then uses sharp snipping scissors to cut rhizomes into small pieces with several growth points, and pots them up (these will be next season's sale plants). It gives me the courage to try this myself.  I think spring is the only time to divide epimedium here, late summer or autumn division would be fatal.

Tim, that's a most attractive Epi, but you've lost the name?  I think epimediums are excellent underplantings for trees, as long as the tree roots are not that intensive.  The only ornamental tree that I've found has such a dense surface root system to prevent most underplanting is Stewartia pueudocamellia, although Iris cristata forms have no problem skimming along the top layer of bark mulch.

Thanks Maggi, it's amazing just how such a favorable change can affect one's disposition and outlook on things. I'm so eager for the 2013 Epimedium season, I had to shelve my hybridization plans the last two years, but this year will be different, already starting to formulate my strategy.  I want to start into attempted woodland Iris hybridization too.

Now, back to perusing online Catalogs for more Epimediums, have at least 2 more orders to make.

Rick, the November pic of E. stellulatum 'Wudang Star' is what I love about them, the evergreen species transform their tender spring foliage into substantial leathery leaves, beautifully netted with dark autumn/winter tones. It shall be interesting to hear of successes with Epimedium in your Zone 4, to see how many species and cultivars are up to the Michigan climate.

So far as propagating Epimedium, the best time is undoubtedly as they first emerge in March and April.  By May, they're in full flower, it doesn't hurt them to divide them at that time (although one will probably lose the flowers), or even shortly after flowering.

Continuing to summarize this year's Epimedium orders from mail-order nurseries, here is what I ordered from Arrowhead Alpines.  I'm happy to get the two forms of E. franchetii.  Garden Vision Epimediums has many more varieties than they propagate and sell, and sometimes a particular species or cultivar is offered only on one particular year, so it's easy to miss acquiring them.  Glad to see such collections getting around and becoming available.

Order 3:
1   E. dolichostemon
1   E. ecalcaratum
1   E. franchetii
1   E. franchetii cc 950065 (GVE collection)
1   E. pubescens OG 91.003 (Ogisu collection)

~$99 with packaging and shipping.
5 Epimedium plants, average cost with shipping:  $20

No damage from the snow this time around, and we didn't lose power.  The temperature was very cold (about 16 F), so the snow was more powder-like, not sticking to trees and taking branches down as happens with wet heavy snow.

After evaluating a hybrid of E. sempervirens for 6-7 years, I have decided to name and introduce this one.  It has the best growth and mounding habit of any sempervirens form. In spring it presents lovely chocolate-purple heart-shaped leaflets, topped with a flurry of complimentary pale lavender white flowers.  The "leaf build" on this one is outstanding, making a domed mound of crisp leathery green hearts, each leaf with light sheen and rugose texture, neatly rimmed with red.  Even in November and December, the foliage mound is clean, green, and attractive.  It is much more drought resistant than any of the grandiflorum and youngianum types.

Epimedium sempervirens 'Passion Hearts'

foliage mound in November-December:

Thank goodness for weekends, with some time to get caught up.

Thanks Gerrit, Tim, Rick, and Lis, for comments on E. sempervirens 'Passion Hearts'. I will have to muster great fortitude to dig up my plant this spring and divide it into little bits.

Rick: I work hard on names; keeping a small book with possibilities. I agonized over a dozen or more names on this one, who knew that conjuring names could be so challenging.  A plant will be stuck with whatever name is given, in perpetuity, so it should be a good one.  There's a recent trend to use kitsch names to make a clever pun, rather than attempting to capture some key characteristic of the plant; I'm not a fan of the puns.

Gerrit: I know exactly what you mean about seeing yet another pink, white, or lilac youngianum; they don't look much different than dozens upon dozens of similar ones.  Heck, I could name 500 or more such lookalike seedlings every year.  And then things get named completely as the result of a mistake, like Epimedium 'Creeping Yellow', or as it goes around now, E. grandiflorum 'Creeping Yellow'. A nursery was sent an unknown Epimedium described as having yellow flowers and creeping growth, but in a case of mistaken shipment, what was sent was a white flowered grandiflorum; e.g. the wrong plant, but it doesn't matter, the plant gets labeled 'Creeping Yellow' anyways!  Google it, many places have this gaffe for sale, for only $10-$14 dollars.

Tim: so much of the focus on hybridization is with flowers, when in fact, there is so much more that plants like Epimedium can offer.  In the record drought year of 2011, I witnessed first hand which epis suffered terribly from the extreme dryness, and which ones sailed through; Epimedium sempervirens is a winner for drought resistance, and as well, superb for foliage, generally much more so that the grandiflorums and youngianums. So, a primary focus for me, is to work with sempervirens.  If you can get your hands on some, they might do very well in your garden, under your apple tree.

Lis:  I know that movement of plants between Canada and USA is easier than overseas, with some Canadian nurseries shipping to USA, not sure about the other way around.  Hopefully more Epimedium cultivars will become available in all of North America, including many exciting ones from the European continent.

As I continue to go through my slides, here's a couple nice youngianum epis:

In these two views we see several epimediums. In the center is E. x youngianum 'Pink Star', an adorable little plant with perky pink and white flowers, and neat spring leaves with a coppery flush. On the right is pink youngianum 'Hanagaruma', purple grandiflorum 'Pierre's Purple' behind, and E. x 'Black Sea' (light yellow flowers) on the left.

For sheer flower-power, among the very best youngianum types is E. x youngianum 'Hanagaruma'. It has excellent foliage, small leaflets, and neat "foliage build", low and wide growing. The flowers are in dense clusters above the foliage, a lovely lavender pink. Notice a few seedling babies.

Lis, you have a couple options for pimedium sources in Canada:

From the first page of this topic:
Thimble Farms Nursery - British Columbia, Canada, they do ship to the US & Canadian provinces
Excellent affordable list of Epimedium, including the new 'Atlas' from Free Spirit Nursury, about 55 varieties.
http://www.thimblefarms.com/perennials%20a-g.html

In Ontario, where you live, there is Lost Horizons in Acton, Ontario. In the PDF link below, they list a superb selection of Epimedium, including many of the newer Darrell Probst hybrids and other new favorites, 88 Epimedium varieties in their 2013 catalog.  Unfortunately, they say that they do not ship. I realize Ontario is a big place, Ottawa to Acton is listed at 460km (286 miles) via Trans-Canada Hwy, a 5-1/2 hour drive.  But maybe if you ever plan to visit Toronto, you could combine the trip with some nursery shopping ;)

Lost Horizons Nursery, Acton, Ontario
http://www.losthorizons.ca/dwnld/Lost_Horizons_Catalogue_2013F.pdf

One important thing to know about Epimedium, they come in two basic types, those that clump, and those that run. Some of those that run, can spread as much as 12" a year by underground rhizomes, choose carefully with these.  I prefer those that clump and don't spread aggressively. I like the fact that Garden Vision Epimedium catalog always mentions the spread/clumping characteristic of all those they sell.