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December 2000 Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Kosteri' November 2000 Epimediums October 2000 Asplenium trichomanes September 2000 Gentiana paradoxa August 2000 Allium cyaneum July 2000 Geranium dalmaticum June 2000 Lewisia rediviva May 2000 Sanguinaria canadensis 'Multiplex' April 2000 Pulsatilla slavica March 2000 Crocus ancyrensis February 2000 Cassiope lycopodioides January 2000 Corallorhiza maculata Archive 2004 Archive 2003 Archive 2002 Archive 2001 Archive 1999 Archive 1998 Archive 1997	Plant of the Month November 2000 Epimediums by Sharon Illingworth Epimediums, or barrenworts, are members of the Berberidaceae family, native to Asia, Europe, and North Africa. They are spring-blooming. Some species are small enough for the shady rock garden, while the larger species are better grown in a woodland situation. They are said to like a cool humus soil that does not dry out, but we have grown them successfully in drier conditions under birches. The dense clumps admit few weeds. We find that the zone recommendations in most catalogues are very conservative. It is the wonderful foliage of these plants that extends the interest through the seasons. Epimedium x rubrum, about 30cm tall, has leaves that are beautifully tinted in spring, changing to a medium green in full summer, and in the autumn developing lovely buff shades, enhanced by morning frost.
	Epimedium x youngianum 'Niveum', about 20-25 cm tall, has smaller leaves and dainty white flowers. It and its pink form 'Roseum' are perfect for the shady rock garden. It is important with these plants to cut their old foliage off in early spring before the flowers emerge. Otherwise the flowers will be hidden.
	Epimedium pinnatum ssp colchicum, with bright yellow flowers, is one of the species that are evergreen, and it should not need this treatment in milder areas. In our zone 3/4 climate the foliage is damaged by the cold, so I cut it back in the spring. The large fresh-looking leaves remain green until the snow flies. Propagation by division of the rhizomatous roots is best done in the spring after the plants have finished blooming.