Epimedium Hybrid Groups and Some Miscellaneous Species

Below, I have categorized Epimedium hybrids by their plant form and flower types in order to help you go for the best plants for your site. Other articles in this series comprise other groups.

Epimedium Hybrid Groups and Some Miscellaneous Species

Epimedium Hybrid Groups and Some Miscellaneous Species

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Epimedium Hybrid Groups and Some Miscellaneous Species

Epimedium Hybrid Groups and Some Miscellaneous Species

Epimediums with Dodecatheon-like flowers

Several other favorites that don't look any of the aforeMentioned species are the clumping evergreen species E. Fargesii (1894) (Zone 5-8), E. Dewuense (2003) and the slowly spreading evergreen E. Dolichostemon (1988)(Zone 5-8). In flower, these more intimately resembles a dodecatheon (shooting star). I find E. Fargesii to be of the most elegant, understated of all the fAiry wings... Unfortunately, the lack of market inquire will probably keep it rare. E. Fargesii is represented by the cultivars E. 'Pink Constellation', E. 'Pink Treasure', and E. 'Star Shower'. E. Dolichostemon which has wider spurs is also prized for its wonderfully mottled foliage. E. Dewuense is the smallest of the three with flowers that look a small E. Fargesii.

Other Epimedium Species and Hybrid Groups

Other than the previously Mentioned species and groups, there are a integrate of others which are fAirly thorough in market production.

The European E. Pinnatum ssp. Colchicum (1903) (Zone 5-8) is a lovely evergreen species, best known in the trade by the Us National Arboretum variety from near the Black Sea and later named E. Pinnatum ssp. Colchicum 'Thunderbolt' In cold weather, the foliage darkens to nearly black with a few green veins. E. X warleyense is a hybrid of E. Alpinum and E. Pinnatum ssp. Colchicum. This is one of the few true orange epimediums. Commonly available cultivars from this cross comprise E. 'Ellen Willmott', and E. X warleyense 'Orangekonigin'.

E. Perralderianum (1862) (Zone 5-8) is the only species native to Africa... Algeria, in fact. The 1' tall stalk, held above the foliage is adorned with up to two dozen large consuming yellow flowers. A similar seeing hybrid to the parent derived from crossing E. Perralderianum with the intimately connected E. Pinnatum ssp. Colchicum is E. X perralchicum. This cross, also with long spreading rhizomes as it parents, is represented in the trade by E. 'Frohnleiten' (reddish spring foliage with green veins and only 8" tall, yellow flowers), and E. 'Wisley'.

Epimedium Hybrids

Despite all of the fabulous species and species selections, some of the most consuming new epimediums are arrival from interspecific crosses. I view I'd share a few of my favorites. E. 'Amber Queen' Pp 17,197 is a cross of E. 'Caramel' x E. Flavum. This fabulous hybrid is topped with large floral sprays of large golden flowers. Also from Robin White's breeding program in the Uk is E. 'Pink Elf' Pp 17,228. This floriferous hybrid comes thanks to E. Pubescens with the other parent in question... Reportedly E. Leptorrhizum, but I'm betting on E. Grandiflorum. This is the very first epimediums to flower for us, often starting to bud by early March. The numerous flower stalks originate a cloud-like result of small flesh-colored flowers.

There are a amount of other hybrids of unknown parenTAGe. Some of my favorites including the Japanese hybrid E. 'Yohiki', a later choice with long-spurred white flowers, which have white cups and hot pink sepals. E. 'Spritzer' is a fabulous E. Membranaceum hybrid from Darrell Probst with heavily liver-speckled, spiny-edged leaves, topped starting in late March with tall spikes of large yellow flowers with contrasting coral sepals. an additional one one of my favorites of Darrell's hybrids is E. 'Domino'... Mid-March flowering vigorous 3' wide speciMen with nicely mottled leaves, topped with 2' tall burgundy flower spikes that have huge numbers of large white flowers, highlighted by pink cups. Two others that should soon come to be more widely available are Robin White's E. 'William Stearn' (long pink spurs and raspberry cups) and Darrell Probst's E. 'Pink Champagne' (red mottled foliage and flowers of long light pink spurs and raspberry cups). These are just a sample of the fabulous hybrids that have just begun to hit the shop with more on the way including many from our work here at Pdn.

I hope you find this group as enjoyable as I have and hope your interest in epimediums has been "spurred" to new heights. Again, a final thanks to Darrell Probst, without whom this would not have been possible and without whom many of these great Epimedium would never have made it into commerce.

Epimedium Hybrid Groups and Some Miscellaneous Species