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

    ReplyDelete
  2. Very pretty!
    Happy Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day!

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

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

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

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. They are lovely - the closer you get, the lovelier they are

      Delete
  5. 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. Very pretty. Not something I've grown.

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

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

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

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

I love hearing from you and welcome thoughtful conversations :)

Comments aiming to link back and give credence to commercial websites will be composted!

Your essential reads

Jack Go To Bed At Noon

Salad Days: Mastering Lettuce

Testing Times: Tomatoes

Chelsea Fringe 2014: Shows of Hands - Episode I

Things in unusual places #26: Rubber Ducks

Merry Christmas!

The Resilient Garden

#mygardenrightnow: heading into summer with the Chelsea Fringe

That blue flower: A spring spotter's guide

Introducing the #mygardenrightnow project