Here are two exceptional fairy wing cultivars that are in peak bloom today. The top is our introduction, Epimedium ‘Rise and Shine’. The floriferous nature of many of the recently introduced epimediums puts many of the older cultivars to shame.
Epimedium ‘Woodland Elf’ will be a 2026 introduction of a plant developed by plant breeder, Hans Hansen of Walters Garden. The number of flowers is truly incredible.
Over the past few years I have planted some of your ‘spreading’ Epimedium x versicolor ‘Sulphureum’ and ‘clumping’ Epimedium ‘Domino’; both have been robust and reliable for me. A few other cultivars haven’t exactly thrived in my dry wooded shade and are just barely hanging on or have disappeared into the great botanic beyond. I see ‘Rise and Shine’ and ‘Woodland Elf’ are clump-forming / slow spreaders. I have spots for both types. I also have some relatively contained wooded border where a fast-spreader would be desirable to provide larger swaths of groundcover.
Do you have any spreading epimedium (new or old varieties) that are as robust a spreader and as colorful as Epimedium x versicolor ‘Sulphureum’? Perhaps a variety that is both hyper-floriferous and hyper-spreading is out there or will come along soon?
Thanks, Greg
We don’t offer as many of the spreading forms, but highly recommend the old standy, Epimedium x perralchicum ‘Frohnleiten’. Of the newer varieties, Epimedium ‘Ninja Stars’ is outstanding as a spreader.