Epimedium - various threads gathered together here

[fleurbleue]

Hi, I have E. pallidum and versicolor neosulphureum bought from two different nurseries and they are very very similar 

[Hans J]

Olga ,

thank you for correction ( I have it changed )
I had also my doubt because I got this plant from a good source ...and I grow E.alpinum also from other sources and they are a bit later .....
Now after again looking in the Stearn book I'm also shure that it is a E.alpinum 

[Lori S.]

Fleurbleue, it would be very interesting to see both your E. pallidum and your E. versicolor 'Neosulphureum' if you have photos.

[Tony Willis]

Hans I have planted all mine in the garden and they have survived the winter no problem. This has been our coldest winter for many years

It is difficult to photograph them especially the tiny ones as they are so near the ground. i shall have to take the flowers of and photograph them as cut stems.

Epimedium acuminatum d29

[Hans J]

Tony :

great pic !

yes - I will now also plant all outside ....

[Tony Willis]

Some more in flower and some with good foliage. I have had to take the flowers of to photgraph some of them

Epimedium youngianum typicum
Self sown seedling from 'Golden Eagle with lovely foliage
Epimedium sp Chen d15 with good foliage
Epimedium sp chen d27
Epimedium sp chen d26
Epimedium sp chen d24
Epimedium dolichostemon

[gote]

Hans,

With all of these out in flower at the same time, do you try to hybridise them?  I never think of it when mine are in flower, but it is something I want to do at some point just to see what results.  I think trying seed from Ep hybrids would be very cool, never quite knowing what you would end up with.

Paul,
(I found this thread far too late sorry) The older "Species" in European gardens are mostly hybrids with latinized names and since most of us only grow single clones all seedlings are chanse hybrids.
Göte

[gote]

The I have a query for all you E. buffs.  Pictures of an Ep. given to me by my Japanese friend Kimihiko who said it was just a garden variety from Japan.  I've looked through my Stearn and I still can't name it your help is needed.

Hi excuse my lateness.
It probably IS a japanese form not known to Stearn. I have taken a look and the closest one I have on a picture is Epimedium grandiflorum 'Tama no Genpei' However, there are probably scores of others looking much the same. I do think that it is safe to assume that it is a grandiflorum.
Göte

[gote]

can you grow all this plant outside in your climate ?
I have always a bit fear and so I grow more or less only the easier ...all other are in pots ( but this is sometimes not so well )

Hans,
Olga's Moscow is probably even colder than my place but I have never lost an Epimedium to cold (or anything but neglect).
I probably grow them together with more difficult plants so they feel very well.
What can happen is that the wintergreen leaves are scorched brown by winter sun. That happend to acuminatum and an unknown yellow this winter.
Göte

PS
You must all garden in the tropics  My earliest Epimedium is up 10mm or so.   

[gote]

Oh I can't stop sharing my love to this plants! 
Why nobody talks about leaf? It is colored is spring and in autumn.

Yes Yes Yes Olga,
I also started collecting them three or four years ago.
Your colchicums are fantastic. I hope they will be available here some time in the future.
I hope to find some of the ones with really big leaves. The leaves are indeed beautiful.
Göte

[gote]

Looking through Stearn can anybody really name anything?

Yes Tony but only if it is in there.
I have identified a couple of unknown and a couple of misnamed ones using the book but I have one that I cannot find. I can find two close relatives but not the very one. It could be a hybrid but it could also be a new species or var or whatever.
Obviously there must be more hybrids around than those he mentions.
Göte

[shelagh]

Thanks Gote, whatever it is I love it.  Tony some great pictures I particularly like Chen d24.  I agree with you they are very hard to photograph unless you get into Bookerish positions.
 

[Tony Willis]

Thanks Gote, whatever it is I love it.  Tony some great pictures I particularly like Chen d24.  I agree with you they are very hard to photograph unless you get into Bookerish positions.
 

Shelagh

I think it is great but only 3 inches high.First time it has flowered this year.

[Olga Bondareva]

Tony
Pretty flowers! Chen's Epimediums are like a lottery. I've not recognized some species yet. But all of them are beautiful!

Your colchicums are fantastic. I hope they will be available here some time in the future.

Gote
I hope so. Plants taken last year didn't shown quick growth.

Olga's Moscow is probably even colder than my place but I have never lost an Epimedium to cold

Moscow is colder…
My friend lost E. acuminatum after -20c snowless frost.

[ChrisB]

Tony - E. dolichostemon is super.  Is that very small?  Gote - love the foliage on yours.  These plants are just intriguing to me.  I love to look at them closely to see the detail of the flower parts.