Flying High with Fairy Wings

The last several weeks have been a floriferous blur in our epimedium collection house. These amazing woodland perennials flower for 4-8 weeks, depending on the variety. Below is a small fraction of the exceptional clones we grow.

Epimedium ‘Rise and Shine’ is a 2020 PDN/JLBG introduction of a hybrid of Epimedium ‘Domino’. The leaves are extremely glossy, and in early spring have a magenta border, along with a great floral show.

Epimedium ‘Rise and Shine’

Epimedium ‘Songbirds’ is our 2014 introduction of an extremely floriferous selection.

Epimedium ‘Songbirds’

Epimedium ‘Pumpkin Pie’ is a potential future introduction with long sprays of large peachy flowers. This is a hybrid of Epimedium wushanense.

Epimedium ‘Pumpkin Pie’

Epimedium ‘Picture Frame’ is one of our later flowering introductions that hit the market in 2014. This has probably the best edged foliage of any fairy wing we’ve grown.

Epimedium ‘Picture Frame’

Epimedium ‘Totnes Turbo’ has been really impressive in our trials. This hybrid from the former UK’s Desirable Plants Nursery, is a cross of Epimedium latisepalum x pinnatum ssp. colchicum.

Epimedium ‘Totnes Turbo’

One of the finest epimediums we grow is Epimedium x versicolor ‘Cupreum’. Although this selection has been around since 1854, it’s still near the top of our list of favorites.

Epimedium x versicolor ‘Cupreum’

A Pink Champagne Toast

Looking lovely in the gardens today is the incredible Epimedium ‘Pink Champagne’. This 2007 Darrell Probst introduction still remains one of the finest fairy wing cultivars ever introduced. Our plant below is growing where it receives a couple of hours of mid-day sun. A mature clump will reach 2′ tall x 3′ wide. Winter hardiness is Zone 5a-8b.

Epimedium 'Pink Champagne'
Epimedium ‘Pink Champagne’

Fairy Wing Sing Along

Looking absolutely fabulous in the garden now is the superb new fairy wing introduction, Epimedium ‘Lyrical Lemonade’, from the handiwork of plantsman, Hans Hansen. It’s hard to imagine where you’d fit any more flowers. Hardy in zones 5a to 8b.

Epimedium ‘Lyrical Lemonade’

Epimedium greenhouse

Epimedium greenhouseSometimes when walking through our production greenhouses, it’s hard to contain our excitement about all the cool plants.  For those unable to visit, here’s a shot from our epimedium greenhouses today…so many great new selections for the woodland garden!

 

Laurentia fluvitalis – Blue Star Creeper

Laurentia fluvitalis5

On the dwarf side, Blue star creeper, Laurentia fluvitalis is looking great for us now.  This tiny groundcover that likes moist sites in sun to part sun, tops out at only 1″ tall, smothered in tiny light sky blue flowers…perfect in the fairy garden or draping over the edges of a container.  The growth rate is perfect…not too fast and not too slow.

Ledebouria ‘Dawie Human’

Ledebouria ovalifolia Dawie Human in flower5

It just doesn’t get any cuter than the tiny rock garden scilla-relative, Ledebouria ‘Dawie Human’.  Topping out at 1-2″ tall, be sure to plant it in a special spot, so it doesn’t get overlooked….like a fairy or gnome garden.  If you’re in the far north, enjoy it as a container plant. Here it is after our cold winter, flowering beautifully in our rock garden.

Epimedium ‘Splish Splash’

Epimedium Splish Splash9

I don’t know if you’ve ever tried to photograph epimediums, but it’s not an easy task…especially the white-flowered cultivars.  I was finally able get a decent shot of our Epimedium ‘Splish Splash’ this week and wanted to share it.  With our cool spring, epimediums have had a very long flowering period.

Epimedium x perralchicum ‘Frohnleiten’

Epimedium x perralchicum Frohnleiten in flower closeup

Here’s an oldie but goodie fairy wing that I wouldn’t garden without, Epimedium x perralchicum ‘Frohnletien’...love the foliage and the flowers.