Epimedium - various threads gathered together here

[Gunilla]

They also have some great cultivars I've not seen on this side of the pond: Epimedium 'Amber Queen' - Blackthorn Nursery (E.flavum x E.wushanense)... ooh la la! 

I was lucky to find E. 'Amber Queen' last year and I'm very pleased with both leaves and flowers.

Tony
E. latisepalum is marvellous  . 

Mark
I really like E. x setosum, beautiful leaves and a lovely cloud of white flowers.   

[David Nicholson]

Long Acre Plants in the UK
http://www.plantsforshade.co.uk/acatalog/Epimedium.html

I haven't bought from them myself, but they're listed in our Links pages, recommended by John Humphries......

http://www.srgc.org.uk/smf/index.php?action=links

A fine nursery with some lovely stuff.

[TheOnionMan]

The 'Jennie Wren' is a real stunner, exactly what I would like to see more of here.

More will be coming!  One thing that bothered me with so many Epimedium photos, they concentrate on a few little flowers, one never really sees what the plant will do in the garden after a few years.  My photos will mostly focus on what these beauties do in the garden.

[Giles]

A chap I used to be at college with sells alot of Epimediums  http://www.desirableplants.com/  (ruthless 'plug'   )
Mail Order only (EU), or will bring to shows.
I bought a Roscoea 'Red Gurkha' from him for my mother, and she hasn't managed to kill it yet (which is one hell of a recommendation   )

[Giles]

http://www.desirableplants.com/

[Carlo]

Now THERE'S a plant I want to get my hands on. Roscoea 'Red Gurkha' has been at or near (changes sooooo often) the top of my lust list ever since I saw my first photograph of it!

[TheOnionMan]

I do, however, have E. davidii, pictured above.

A really choice species.  Lesley, does it grow and flower well for you?  How spreading is it? I have one form that has grown into my Iris henryi patch, and must be brave one day to dig it all up and extricate the epimedium, use it as a propagation opportunity... I did plant them too close together.  Some E. davidii spread more than others.

Garden Vision Epimendiums listed 5 selections in their 2009 catalog:
E. davidii "Robust Forms" - flowering 18-24" (45-60 cm), rhizomes to 4-8"
E. davidii "Wolong Dwarfs" - flowering 6-10" (15-25 cm), growth rate not indicated
E. davidii "Wolong Selections" - 18-24" stems, growth rate not indicated
E. davidii 'EMR4125' - original Martyn Rix collection
E. davidii 'Emerald Sheen' - 2008 introduction (expensive), 12-24" tall, shiny foliage, clumping but occasional rhizome.

I had the first 4 forms, eventually lost the "Wolong Dwarf" selection in the first winter after planting, a rare phenomenon.  Must get the dwarf form back again.

[Carlo]

Geez Mark, if I had a job, I'd offer to buy some divisions from you...

[TheOnionMan]

http://www.desirableplants.com/

Some nice stuff there!  They have E. wushanense 'Caramel' for only 4.5£... at those prices I expect they'll be showing up at Walmart soon enough.

The Epimedium listing questions whether E. x versicolor 'Versicolor' and E. x versiciolor 'Cupreum' are one and the same plant, as no one knows the difference.  I grow both and ther are indeed different (albeit of similar flower color).  I will put it on my list to show both to illustrate the differences.  I've had my E. x versicolor 'Cupreum' since 1973!

[TheOnionMan]

Geez Mark, if I had a job, I'd offer to buy some divisions from you...

Nice sentiment Carlo, I appreciate the thought!  Now, if both of us would just kick this drug addiction called SRGC Forum, maybe we'd actually find jobs.   

[TheOnionMan]

Now THERE'S a plant I want to get my hands on. Roscoea 'Red Gurkha' has been at or near (changes sooooo often) the top of my lust list ever since I saw my first photograph of it!

What a red tomata!
http://www.desirableplants.com/page21.html
http://www.desirableplants.com/Roscoea%20purpurea%20'Red%20Gurkha'.jpg

I have a love/hate relationship with Roscoea, love the flowers, hate the plant growth after flowering... I can elaborate, is there a Roscoea forum I can suck a few more hours out of my life ;-)

[Carlo]

...I'm thinking maybe one or two of each (Desirable Plants indeed...).

[johnw]

The first is a pretty awful picture when it was still in a pot.
It is a wonderful plant.

Holy Toledo!  It's smashing.

johnw

John did you notice the podophyllum seed pods dangling in the background on the second picture?

Hey Tony, is that your P. versipelle?  Missed it completely.  A lot of prayers being said here for the planted Podophyllum seeds, keeping them "evenly moist" religiously.

johnw

[johnw]

Here is what I have as Epimedium latisepalum. The first is a pretty awful picture when it was still in a pot.

Wouldn't it look great planted under one of the bigleaf, upright rhododendron species.  Also might hide the knobby knees.

johnw

[Lesley Cox]

Mark, my E. davidii hasn't done a lot as it was in its original pot for a long time and was only planted out recently. However, it has flowered well in the pot and is growing on nicely now. It is though, very susceptible to drought at the roots. I suppose most of them are. It will be happier in the ground.

Some very desirable plants on that list Giles, especially the epimediums.