Garden Blogger's Blooms Day: E is for...

Epimedium 'Amber Queen'

... Epimedium aka barrenwort, bishop's hat or fairy wings.

Here's another example of Sleep Creep Leap. I planted my Epimediums two years ago and this is their first flowering. It was worth the wait. Whilst the blooms are tiny, they're plentiful and add grace to my revamped border at the bottom of the garden, where they thrive in the partial shade there. I really should have got down on my tummy for a better photo, thank goodness they also look pretty from above!

The one pictured is 'Amber Queen'. I bought a bargain collection of 9 plants with three examples of each cultivar in the pack. 'Pink Elf' is just coming into bloom and therefore it's not quite ready to take a bow on Blooms Day. Epimedium x versicolor 'Sulphureum' has yet to make its flowering debut; its name tells of yellow blooms to come.

The green leaves turn bronze with time

The heart shaped leaves turn bronze with age and thus makes this a year-round plant of interest. They're plentiful too, so I don't need to spend much time weeding their allotted area. Some of my blogger friends note they can be a bit on the vigorous side; my plan is to divide and relocate the extras to the front side garden if that happens. It'll be interesting to see how they fare alongside the ivy which creeps over from the public open space next door.

Plant Lovers Guide to Epimediums book cover

I hadn't really considered Epimediums for my garden until I joined Bath University Gardening Club. Sally Gregson is a well-known plantswoman in Somerset who specialises in them and I'd just missed out on a visit to her garden and nursery. With my curiosity piqued, her book on the subject came along at the right time as a neat birthday present from my brother-in-law. It's a fine book if - like me at the time - you want to learn more about this delicately beautiful plant.

Epimedium 'Amber Queen' arches nicely across the gravel path

Garden Bloggers' Blooms Day is hosted by Carol at May Dreams Gardens.

Comments

  1. Carol Michel15 April 2021 at 13:53

    Lovely! Thanks for sharing them. Now, go get some violas and pansies!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Lea15 April 2021 at 14:47

    Very pretty!
    Happy Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Dorothy Borders15 April 2021 at 16:16

    Patience is a virtue that is hard for gardeners to come by. Yours has been rewarded. Congratulations for persevering!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. VP21 April 2021 at 09:05

      I've learned to give any new plant at least 3 years to perform Dorothy, hence the nod to Sleep, Creep, Leap :)

      Delete
  4. The bike shed15 April 2021 at 17:55

    'Epimediums' - sort of has to be a joke in their somewhere. New plat to me, but they look great

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. VP21 April 2021 at 09:06

      They are lovely - the closer you get, the lovelier they are

      Delete
  5. Anonymous15 April 2021 at 21:00

    I am in love with epimediums. I added several a few years ago when Layanee said I should. This year, I ordered six more. They are still hard to find locally, but when I see one, I grab it. Anything that likes dry shade in my Oklahoma garden is considered a friend. Happy Bloom Day Michelle!~~Dee

    ReplyDelete
  6. Lisa15 April 2021 at 23:02

    Very pretty. Not something I've grown.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. VP21 April 2021 at 09:07

      If they'll like your Zone Lisa, then they're worth it if you have some shade :)

      Delete
  7. Arun Goyal16 April 2021 at 06:22

    Wow ! The epimediums looks attractive plant. It would be my pleasure if you join my link up party related to Gardening, Nature and birds here at http://jaipurgardening.blogspot.com/2021/04/garden-affair-mesembryanthemum.html

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. VP21 April 2021 at 09:08

      They seem to be a blogger favourite this year Arun, but probably not for your location :(

      Delete
  8. Yvonne23 April 2021 at 17:43

    I was wondering what fairy wings were. I've heard of barrenwort before. They are very lovely in your garden.

    ReplyDelete

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