Epimedium

This amazing mountain plant has been cultivated in decorative gardens in Europe for more than two centuries. The genus contains more than 50 species, most of which are native to Tien Shan and Tibet. In nature, Epymedium lives in moist mountain forests or on mountain spurs, many species - on limestones. All Epymedium are herbaceous perennial plants, their root system is a branched horizontal rhizome. The length of the rhizome internodes determines the density of the bush: in some species it is equal to 1-2 cm, and they form dense bushes, while other species, which have an internode length of 2-7 cm, form rare sod fields. There are also "sprawling" species. The latter include Korean mountain grass (Epymedium coreana), it is able to fill an area of about 1 m2 in 3-4 years. The rhizome of Epymedium grows from the center to the periphery. After 4-5 years, old plants in the middle of the bush begin to die off the central part. From the nodes of the rhizome in spring, straight stems with a height of 15 to 20 cm rise in different species. The stems usually have 2-3 leaves, at the end of the stem - a racemose inflorescence. The leaves are twice or thrice pinnate, dense. Some Epymedium have evergreen leaves, while others die off every autumn until spring. There are many hybrid species in the culture that have semi-evergreen leaves. The shape of the leaf lobes, leaflets, can be oval or heart-shaped, with or without teeth along the edge, their length ranges from 2 to 8 cm. In some species, the leaves along the edge and along the veins are colored purple. The flowers are small, from 0.5 to 2 cm. Their shape is unusual, 4 sepals are arranged crosswise, can be with or without spurs. The flowers are light and seem to float above the leaves. The Germans call this plant "elf flower". Currently, up to 20 species are grown in the gardens, many of them hybrid. The most common ones are the following. Highland Alpine (E. alpinum) up to 30 cm tall, with yellow flowers; Horny goat weed (E. grandiflorum) to 35 cm tall with purple flowers, and its varieties 'Lilacinus' ('Lilacinum'), 'rose Queen' ('Rose Queen') and 'white Queen' ('White Queen'), respectively, with purple, pink and white flowers; highland Korean (E. coreanum), a height of 40 cm with a very large pink flowers in the inflorescence 2-4 flower; Epimedium Colchicum (colchicum E.) to 35 cm, with yellow flowers; highland red (E x rubrum), the most common, the flowers are red with yellow; highland Valeska (E. x warlyensis), in our gardens, meets the grade 'orange of Konigin' ('Orange Kenigin') with orange flowers, grows to 40 cm; highland Jung (E. x joungianum) varieties 'Roseum' ('Roseum') and 'Niveum' ('Niveum') with pink and white flowers to a height of 15-20 cm.

This amazing mountain plant has been cultivated in decorative gardens in Europe for more than two centuries. The genus contains more than 50 species, most of which are native to Tien Shan and Tibet. In nature, Epymedium lives in moist mountain forests or on mountain spurs, many species - on limestones. All Epymedium are herbaceous perennial plants, their root system is a branched horizontal rhizome. The length of the rhizome internodes determines the density of the bush: in some species it is equal to 1-2 cm, and they form dense bushes, while other species, which have an internode length of 2-7 cm, form rare sod fields. There are also "sprawling" species. The latter include Korean mountain grass (Epymedium coreana), it is able to fill an area of about 1 m2 in 3-4 years. The rhizome of Epymedium grows from the center to the periphery. After 4-5 years, old plants in the middle of the bush begin to die off the central part.

From the nodes of the rhizome in spring, straight stems with a height of 15 to 20 cm rise in different species. The stems usually have 2-3 leaves, at the end of the stem - a racemose inflorescence. The leaves are twice or thrice pinnate, dense. Some Epymedium have evergreen leaves, while others die off every autumn until spring. There are many hybrid species in the culture that have semi-evergreen leaves. The shape of the leaf lobes, leaflets, can be oval or heart-shaped, with or without teeth along the edge, their length ranges from 2 to 8 cm. In some species, the leaves along the edge and along the veins are colored purple.

The flowers are small, from 0.5 to 2 cm. Their shape is unusual, 4 sepals are arranged crosswise, can be with or without spurs. The flowers are light and seem to float above the leaves. The Germans call this plant "elf flower".

Currently, up to 20 species are grown in the gardens, many of them hybrid. The most common ones are the following. Highland Alpine (E. alpinum) up to 30 cm tall, with yellow flowers; Horny goat weed (E. grandiflorum) to 35 cm tall with purple flowers, and its varieties 'Lilacinus' ('Lilacinum'), 'rose Queen' ('Rose Queen') and 'white Queen' ('White Queen'), respectively, with purple, pink and white flowers; highland Korean (E. coreanum), a height of 40 cm with a very large pink flowers in the inflorescence 2-4 flower; Epimedium Colchicum (colchicum E.) to 35 cm, with yellow flowers; highland red (E x rubrum), the most common, the flowers are red with yellow; highland Valeska (E. x warlyensis), in our gardens, meets the grade 'orange of Konigin' ('Orange Kenigin') with orange flowers, grows to 40 cm; highland Jung (E. x joungianum) varieties 'Roseum' ('Roseum') and 'Niveum' ('Niveum') with pink and white flowers to a height of 15-20 cm.

Cultivation

Epymedium are unpretentious plants. They are good under trees and shrubs, in rockeries, at the base of a slide or just in a mixborder near honeydew, geicher, ferns and primroses. Delicate blooming and ornamental foliage make them decorative all season long. Before winter, the shoots and leaves of Epymedium are not cut even in deciduous species, since Epymedium winter better with leaves. In spring, as soon as the snow melts, the stems must be pruned, since after the appearance of young shoots, pruning the stems is much more difficult.

Epymedium are unpretentious plants. They are good under trees and shrubs, in rockeries, at the base of a slide or just in a mixborder near honeydew, geicher, ferns and primroses. Delicate blooming and ornamental foliage make them decorative all season long.

Before winter, the shoots and leaves of Epymedium are not cut even in deciduous species, since Epymedium winter better with leaves. In spring, as soon as the snow melts, the stems must be pruned, since after the appearance of young shoots, pruning the stems is much more difficult.

Location

They can grow both in the sun and in the shade. But they bloom best in partial shade on soils with neutral acidity and high humus content.

Temperature

In spring, mountain women begin to grow quickly, their young shoots and flowers can be damaged by recurrent spring frosts. When frosts are below-1-2 °C, they need shelter. Most hot dogs in the middle latitudes are able to winter without shelter. However, since their rhizomes with new buds lie almost at the surface of the soil, the bases of the bushes are mulched before winter. Mountain women of Japanese and Tibetan origin in the literature are referred to the 5th climatic zone. The practice of growing them has shown that they can successfully grow and develop in the middle latitudes, but in addition to mulching for the winter, they need shelter.

In spring, mountain women begin to grow quickly, their young shoots and flowers can be damaged by recurrent spring frosts. When frosts are below-1-2 °C, they need shelter. Most hot dogs in the middle latitudes are able to winter without shelter. However, since their rhizomes with new buds lie almost at the surface of the soil, the bases of the bushes are mulched before winter.

Mountain women of Japanese and Tibetan origin in the literature are referred to the 5th climatic zone. The practice of growing them has shown that they can successfully grow and develop in the middle latitudes, but in addition to mulching for the winter, they need shelter.

Watering

Plants prefer moist soil, but are also able to withstand light droughts.

Reproduction

Propagate only vegetatively. Seed propagation is used only in breeding work. For vegetative reproduction, pieces of rhizome are used. The division of the bush and the planting of divisions are carried out in the above terms.

Diseases

Young greens of Epymedium can be eaten by snails and slugs. Diseases are practically absent.

Landing The best planting time is early June, so that the plant takes root well before winter. Epymedium are planted not deep, the rhizome is located in the planting hole at a depth of 3-4 cm from the soil surface. The pit is filled with fertile humus earth, adding 1 teaspoon of full mineral fertilizer and 1/4 cup of dolomite flour or half a cup of ash for each plant. If an adult Epymedium bush has begun to lose its decorative effect due to the death of the central part of the rhizome, it should be divided into parts. It is best to do this in early June, immediately after flowering. However, transplants are also allowed later, before the beginning of August.

Landing

The best planting time is early June, so that the plant takes root well before winter. Epymedium are planted not deep, the rhizome is located in the planting hole at a depth of 3-4 cm from the soil surface. The pit is filled with fertile humus earth, adding 1 teaspoon of full mineral fertilizer and 1/4 cup of dolomite flour or half a cup of ash for each plant.

If an adult Epymedium bush has begun to lose its decorative effect due to the death of the central part of the rhizome, it should be divided into parts. It is best to do this in early June, immediately after flowering. However, transplants are also allowed later, before the beginning of August.