When it come to landscape design , not much aid is paid to ground covers . Typically , landscapers focalise on shrub , trees and perennial – the cardinal elements of landscape painting design . More often than not , ground covers are treated as a practical solvent for erosion ascendency , weed curtailment , or moisture retention . They are not give the quotation they deserve for creating grain in the landscape painting or for the role they play in visually tying together the compositional constituent of a garden .

The upside to many earth covering is that they run to spread widely and fill in trouble arena very apace . The downside to ground covert is that they do n’t always play nicely with others and – let ’s face it – in many cases , they can be downright incursive . Because of their innate tendency to spread out , they may raise well beyond their intend boundaries and herd out other plants . sorry yet , they may escape into other expanse of the garden or into the lawn and become a pain in the neck . Pachysandra ( Pachysandra terminalis ) is just one case of a pop ground cover that can be a trouble . It loosely behaves itself when planted in wry , rough grunge where it has to compete with tree base for wet and nutrients . However , when engraft in slack , fertile , moist soil , it can spread aggressively and may require some serious intervention to keep it contained . A good scheme is to choose a ground binding that spread slowly and can be more easily ascertain . AnEpimediumis an example of just such a plant .

WHAT IS EPIMEDIUM ?

The Epimediumgenus is an herbaceous penis of the barberry kinfolk ( Berberidaceae ) of plants . The practiced news program is that it shares none of the incursive characteristics for which some woodsy members of that family are know . It has many common names of which the best known are bishop’s hat ( because it was believed to cause barrenness in women ) , bishop ’s hat ( because the flowers resemble a clergyman ’s mitered hat ) and fairy annexe ( because the delicacy flowers levitate above the foliage like butterfly or pouf about to take flight of steps ) . Low - growingEpimediumsaverage 8 to 12 in . in height . reckon on the selection , they organize either a low pile or a gently spreading ground blanket . They grow best in a shady or semi - shady arena in horticulture zones 5 – 8 .

Epimediumleaves are generally inwardness - shaped , graceful , and most wizard , peculiarly in the spring . There ’s a great deal of variety both in foliage sizing and gloss . Some selections , such as the one evidence in the accompanying photo * ofE. stellulatum‘Long Leaf Form ’ , have elongated leaves that are shaped much like arrowheads . The emerging spring leafage of many selection varies wide in color , with many selections exhibiting blood-red coloration or markings .

The accompanying photograph ofE. x youngianum‘Royal Flush ’ present an example of that cultivar ’s gorgeous leap leafage . As the foliage matures , it changes to upstanding green in summer or to immature with reddish markings . A particularly beautiful case is establish in the photograph ofE.sempervirens‘Cherry meat ’ .

In former leaping , the flowers come along in clusters on long arching flower stalk . depend on the species and cultivar , flower colors include white , reddish , pink , purple , scandalmongering , orange and various bi - color combinations .

A heavy peck of crossbreeding has taken place to expand the floral colour palette . In my opinion , the delicate flowers are certainly charming but it ’s the amazing foliage that endear me to this industrial plant .

The pic ofE. x versicolor‘Sulphureum ’ is an case of a yellow - blooming option .   Its newly emerge spring foliage has rust-brown - reddened markings and is quite striking .

Epimediumsare of course distributed in areas around the Mediterranean Sea and Eastern Asia . Those metal money that evolved in the Mediterranean arena tend to be evergreen plant and drouth tolerant once they are found . Species that have been innovate from Asia are not as drouth tolerant as their Mediterranean first cousin and prefer rich , dampish soil . They also incline to pass back in fall and re - come out in leap with fantastic variation in foliage , texture , and color . Some varieties turn red , yellowish or bronze for a 2d flush of colouring as temperature shed in the fall .

In his 2d variant ofHerbaceous Perennial Plants ( 1989 ) , authorAllanArmitage describedEpimediumas “ a genus whose meter has come , with mountain of dimension and very few demerit . ” Since that edition was publish , there has been an explosion of interest in the genus due to the uncovering of many new Asian species , mostly from China , and to extended breeding work of commercial flora developers , such as Darrell Probst of Massachusetts , as well as a number of non - commercial growers and partisan . As a result , literally hundred of cultivars now survive with more in the works .

Epimediumsare generally trouble costless . cervid and voles normally do n’t bother them but rabbits have been known to nibble the tender saltation foliage .    Slugs and snails may occasionally manducate the foliage but they do n’t usually do any lasting trauma to give planting .

HOW TO apply EPIMEDIUM IN THE LANDSCAPE

Epimediums can be used in a number of interesting ways in the landscape . For example :

HOW TO GROW genus Epimedium

Epimediumis a swell resolution for dry shade conditions where other plants may contend . It competes well with tree roots , is not trouble by stony soil , flourish in ironic soil , and tolerates lower light levels . These are , however , the worst - case develop conditions . While a chunk ofEpimediumcan well tolerate these less - than - idealistic growing conditions , it will perform good if you :

HOW TO PROPAGATE EPIMEDIUM

Epimediumsare well propagated by division . This plant is dull to colonise but it can finally exceed its deal blank in the landscape . Divide it in outpouring after flowering has end or later in summer or early fall , preferably on a cool , cloudy day . TIP : wash the dirt before you try separate the flora . That will facilitate the project of fade through the mass of dull , unchewable roots . Also , habituate a sharp spade or a serrate knife for this labor .

SUMMARY

Whether you are a novice gardener or a serious industrial plant collector , you ca n’t go haywire withEpimedium . It is long - go , sturdy as nail , low maintenance , deer resistant , and drought broad . Its delicate flowers and beautiful foliage make it interesting all time of year long . With so many species and cultivars to choose from , do n’t limit yourself to just one . Although it is slow to spread , be patient and this plant will pay back you with a bewitching combination of colouration , variety , and texture in your tad garden . full of all , it plays nicely with others .

SOURCES

A - izzard Encyclopedia of Garden Plants(American Horticultural Society , 2008 ) .

“ An Evaluation Report on Barrenworts for the Shade Garden , ” by Mark R. Rudy , Plant Evaluator , Chicago Botanic Garden , Plant Evaluation Notes , Issue 20 ( 2003 ) .

Armitage ’s Garden Perennials , 2d erectile dysfunction . ( Armitage , Allan M. , 2011 ) .

“ Epimediums : Queens of the Woodland,”Pacific Horticulture Magazine , Vol . 69 , No . 2 ( Apr. 2008 ) .

Herbaceous Perennial Plants , A Treatise on their Identification , Culture , and Garden Attributes , 3-D ed.(Armitage , Allan M. , 2008 ) .

The Plant Lover ’s Guide to Epimediums(Gregson , Sally , 2015 ) .

PHOTO CREDIT