NORTHWEST HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY SPRING 2011 THE TEN BEST EPIMEDIUM YOU CAN BUY Richie Steffen The delightful epimedium is a subtle, charming, and elegant addition to the garden. Not too many years ago there were less than a dozen different forms available. Today that has completely changed with over 330 cultivars and species coming into cultivation over the last couple of decades and an astonish- ing 200 or so of these being regularly available. With so many choices how do you start without trying them all? This is a question I have asked myself and the only answer I could find was to try them all! Collecting them, both at home and at the Miller Garden, I have enjoyed measuring the successes and failures of any species or cultivar I could lay my hands on. After many years, here are my Epimedium x perralchicum ‘Fröhnleiten’ (Richie Steffen) top ten most successful choices. For Tough Conditions worn and should be cut to the ground. flowers. When it is finished blooming red These choices are the best for their Do not wait later than early February stained leaves unfurl, highlighted with ability to withstand drought and neglect. because this is one of the earliest chartreuse-green veins. This is one of There are many gardens where these epimedium to flower. New flower stems the best epimedium for use as a ground epimedium have thrived with little help emerge coral-red eventually burst- cover. Once established, few weeds can and still look great. ing into bloom with pale orange and push their way through the dense root primrose-yellow blossoms. system and thick foliage cover. Epimedium ‘Black Sea’ Slowly spreading into a dense clump, Epimedium x perralchicum ‘Fröhnleiten’ Epimedium x rubrum ‘Sweetheart’ this epimedium is known for its One of the great workhorses for the This relatively recent selection was bred intensely colored winter foliage. Chilling garden, this old cultivar is still at the top by Darrell Probst for Garden Vision autumn weather triggers the deep green of its class. The rich, dark-green, glossy Nursery in Massachusetts. It has larger foliage to take on darker hues until it foliage is fully evergreen. Cut the leaves and more rounded leaflets than the typi- finally reaches an inky purple-black. By to the ground in mid-winter to make cal form with robust and dense growth. mid-winter the foliage will look a little room for the brilliant canary-yellow The new leaves emerge apple-green NORTHWEST HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY ~ SPRING 2010 THE TEN BEST EPIMEDIUM YOU CAN BUY . continued from page 1 Hidden underneath are some of the largest flowers of the genus. Dangling in clusters hang rich reddish-purple spidery blooms. An ideal spot would be in a raised bed or at the top of a slope to fully enjoy the floral display. Epimedium stellulatum ‘Wudang Star’ This perennial is well named. The delicate sprays of flowers are pure white and glow like a four-pointed star. This clone was introduced from China by the famed plantsman Roy Lancaster for its larger than typical flowers and its prolific flower stems. Epimedium ‘Yokihi’ The first time I saw this epimedium in bloom I knew I had to have it. The eye-catching combination of the creamy-white center and cherry-red spurs sparkles in the garden. The flowers are plentiful and held well above the foliage for maximum show. The rich, green foliage Above: Epimedium gran- provides the perfect background. diflorum var. higoense ‘Bandit’ Right: Epimedium x versicolor Fabulous Foliage ‘Sulphureum’ (Richie Steffen) Although the flowers can provide quite a show, even the amaz- ingly diverse foliage should not be overlooked. Not only can with a thin, red edge delicately outlining a heart shape. The the leaf shape be quite compelling, the color of newly emerging cherry-red and snow-white flowers are nestled among the foliage can be just as showy as the blooms. Some of the newer fresh, green leaves contributing color without overpowering selections also have the habit of sending up more than one the lovely foliage. flush of foliage, prolonging the season of interest. Epimedium x versicolor ‘Sulphureum’ Epimedium grandiflorum var. higoense ‘Bandit’ A great groundcover epimedium, this old variety has proven This epimedium is a dense and compact form of Epimedium its garden worthiness. In early spring butter and lemon-yellow grandiflorum where the new leaves often have a red edge. This flowers spring to life on short stems and are quickly overtaken clone was chosen for its wide, deep maroon-red band edging by beautiful, red-flushed foliage that will mature to a dark each leaflet. The color holds longer than typical forms of this green. The mature foliage is fully evergreen and will hold up subspecies, and it will produce a second flush of colorful foli- well during the winter, but should be cut back by late February. age just as the first flush is fading to green. The prolific flowers are pure white which complement the red and green leaves. Flower Power Many newer cultivars and recently discovered species are much Epimedium grandiflorum ‘Queen Esta’ more floriferous than the older selections. Along with more A profusion of deep reddish-purple flowers appears in early flowers you can also find forms with much larger blooms and spring with the intense coloring offset with each spur tip fading more brilliant colors. to white. As the flowers peak, dark chocolate-purple foliage provides a backdrop. Epimedium ‘Lilac Cascade’ This list is a great group to start with but there are many A recent clone selected by Darrell Probst, it is a tight, clump- more available that are well worth growing, so do not limit ing form with loads of rich lavender and violet flowers. The yourself! Enjoy the charm of epimedium and make them an flowers, larger than many cultivars, are borne just above the essential part of your spring garden display. colorful red-orange flushed new growth. [Editor’s note: See page 10 for information about Richie Steffen’s epimedium class on April 14.] Epimedium grandiflorum ‘Red Queen’ This is a giant among epimedium. In full growth it can reach Richie Steffen is an NHS board member and the curator of the over two feet tall. The foliage is bright green and very upright. Elisabeth C. Miller Botanical Garden. 2 GREAT PLANT PICKS 2011 DROUGHT-TOLERANT, SUN-LOVING COMBINATIONS USING GPPs Alex LaVilla 2010! A record-breaking, unsea- lous choice. Deep purple-blue, slightly sonably cold, wet spring gave way scented flowers with contrasting to a virtually nonexistent summer. yellow stamens bloom in large clusters August temperatures in the high nine- all summer into fall. Yellowish-white, ties stressed already weather-weary non-edible fruit makes a pleasing ad- plants. Fledgling vegetable gardeners dition after a warm summer adding to toughed out their first year struggling the fall display. Happily grown on its with snail-infested crops and no-show own, it is also quite attractive scram- tomatoes. Even established “drought- bling into larger evergreen shrubs tolerant” plants struggled from water like Elaeagnus pungens ‘Maculata’ stress when left on their own during the or Elaeagnus x ebbingei ‘Gilt Edge’. The Top: Daphne x transatlantica ‘Summer Ice’ hot spell. The term “drought-tolerant” flower color looks exquisite against Below: Lonicera nitida is often misleading, implying a “no the gold accents of the foliage. To keep ‘Baggesen’s Gold’ (Richie Steffen) maintenance” as opposed to a “low plants tidy, prune flowering shoots from maintenance” approach. It is better to the previous year to two or three buds ing small but intensely fragrant clusters interpret it as sustaining the well-being from the main stems in late February. of pink buds opening to white flowers and attractive appearance of a plant by For additional interest, plant several from mid-spring through fall. The small, monitoring moisture levels during times dwarf Russian sage, Perovskia ‘Little green, boxwood-like leaves make a nice of extreme stress. This engenders, at the Spire’, along the base interspersed with textural and architectural anchor at the very least, a minimal commitment to generous clusters of our native bulbous base of an elegant specimen like Pinus care throughout the seasons. No matter perennial Camassia quamash or Camas- flexilis ‘Vanderwolf’s Pyramid’ with its what, plants should be established with sia cusickii. In spring, the elegant spires elongated, pinstriped, glaucous needles. regular, deep watering for at least two of star-shaped blue flowers of camas- The frothy, twisted, shimmering silver growing seasons before being consid- sia are a subtle foreshadowing of the foliage of Artemisia versicolor ‘Sea Foam’, ered “drought-tolerant.” Depending on lavender blue sprays of Russian sage that although sadly not evergreen, works soil type, this means slowly soaking the follow in midsummer. Lonicera nitida really well to add a touch of dynamism root zone of trees and large shrubs to a ‘Baggesen’s Gold’ when sheared into a and lighten the scene. Sedum spurium depth of at least two feet and one foot dense, thick wall of golden foliage at ‘Green Mantle’ or Sedum spurium for perennials. Subsequently, in high five or six feet would also look great as a ‘White Carpet’ will add a fresh wave of heat or prolonged drought deep water- backdrop. green at ground level with round, succu- ing twice a month should be the rule as Carport, driveway, or entryway lent leaves that burst forth with clusters opposed to no watering at all. plantings often need year-round interest of white flowers in mid to late summer. Minimal water is often a necessity with minimal water. Daphne x trans- There is always that perfect GPP that when screening along property lines.