Thanks to epimedium guru Darrell Probst for helping us get our offerings off the ground and correctly identified. Thanks to Darrell, Plant Delights Nursery now has one of the best collections of Epimedium for sale anywhere. Epimedium species will never be traffic stoppers like roses, but these woodland shade perennials are the unsung workhorses that tie the shade garden together.
Read More About Epimedium
Epimediums are easy-to-grow perennial wildflowers. They are tenacious flowering shade plants that provide a welcome first breath of spring with their airy flowers, then a solid backdrop of attractive foliage for the remainder of the growing season. Epimedium plants can be used either as woodland garden specimens or groundcovers for small shady areas. As an added bonus, epimediums are deer-resistant.
We are thrilled to be able to offer some of the exceedingly rare Epimedium species that were only recently discovered and named from remote regions of Asia, along with some fabulous hybrids like Epimedium youngianum and Epimedium 'Frohnleiten'. Epimedium flowers are small (largest in Epimedium grandiflorum) but profuse and colorful with colors ranging from white to yellow (Epimedium sulphureum), pink/red (Epimedium rubrum) and bi-colored (Epimedium epsteinii and Epimedium accuminatum). Newly emerging epimedium foliage often has purple or brown tones or patterns which complement the flowers.
Around the world, men buy epimedium to use as an herbal supplement under the name, "horny goat weed". Guess what it is purported to do! Try pairing Epimedium in your garden with other plants with silly animal names like Bergenia (Pigsqueak), Chelone (Turtlehead), Acanthus (Bear's Breech), Cimicifuga (Bugbane) and Silene (Catchfly) to create a botanical menagerie of fun.
When you are ready to buy epimedium for your shade garden (or the man in your life), check out our epimedium for sale below.
Since 1988, Plant Delights Nursery has been the choice of serious gardeners and plant collectors looking for the best and rarest perennial plants. We are pleased to have received the Perennial Plant Association Retail Award in 2011, the American Horticulture Society Commercial Award in 2002, and to have been selected as one of the Best Mail Order Plant Sources - Garden Design Magazine 2010. Welcome to our family of plant lovers!
Epimedium acuminatum 'Night Mistress' is a 2004 Darrell Probst introduction from his 2000 wild collection near Nanchuan in China's Chongqing municipality. The 2' wide clumps of Epimedium 'Night Mistress' are adorned with long arching flower spikes in early spring that are laden with large flowers whose inner sepals look like giant purple spiders with contrasting white exterior sepals on the back. Epimedium acuminatum is best planted on a raised slope so you can enjoy the dangling flowers. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
(aka: E. borealiguizhousense) Epimedium baieali-guizhouense is a recently discovered (published 1993) Chinese species from Yunnan and Guizhou provinces where it can be found between 1,000' and 2,000' elevation. Epimedium baieali-guizhouense makes a robust, evergreen, 4' wide clump with long, spiny-edged green leaves and topped in spring with 18" tall stalks of cloud-like flower heads, each containing hundreds (we estimated) of tiny white flowers...really quite extraordinary in the woodland shade garden. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
(aka: Epimedium PDN 06-001) Epimedium 'Candy Striper', a 2011 PDN release, is one of the most unique epimediums we have grown. In early April, the deciduous 15" tall x 20" wide clumps are adorned with terminal clusters of small four-petaled flowers that are white, but streaked with dark pink. Unlike most epimediums, the non-overlapping petals give Epimedium 'Candy Striper' a most distinctive look. The leaves, which emerge green with a narrow purple edge, are a nice foil for the flowers. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
(aka: Epimedium PDN 05-009) This 2011 Plant Delights introduction is a vigorous Epimedium grandiflorum type (we're not sure of the baby daddy) that forms an 18" tall x 3' wide clump. The green foliage is topped, starting in early April (NC), with stalks of stunning cherry-red flowers, highlighted by the unique spurs which are white on each side...quite stunning! Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
(aka: Epimedium PDN 06-003) Epimedium 'Chocolatte' is a vigorous 2011 PDN introduction...an Epimedium x omeiense-like hybrid that combines a unique brown flower color and exceptional vigor with superbly ornamental foliage. The 20" tall x 3' wide semi-evergreen clump is topped, starting in mid- to late March, with spikes of large chocolate brown petals, each backed by long white sepals. The flowers nicely echo the chocolate bronze color of the new foliage. If you're a chocoholic, you'll love this low calorie indulgence! Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
This amazing 2012 Plant Delights introduction is an Epimedium acuminatum hybrid that is among the most floriferous fairy wings we've ever seen. Epimedium 'Dancing Stars' makes a vigorous growing 18" tall x 30" wide clump, adorned with arching terminal panicles of large flowers composed of long white spurs and yellow cups. Epimedium 'Dancing Stars' starts flowering for us in late March and continues to produce sporadic flowers until early June...simply outstanding! Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
This dazzling 2004 Darrell Probst hybrid is one of our absolute favorite epimediums. The tight clumps of long, spiny green leaves are heavily flecked with amber. In April and May, the 3' wide clumps are topped with 2' tall, hairy, burgundy, arching spikes of large white-spurred flowers, each highlighted by a maroon flower tip...exceedingly floriferous compared to most of the industry standards. Our 4-year-old, deer-resistant clumps produce over 100 flower spikes...simply superb. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
This wonderful epimedium selection was brought into the US from Japan by Terra Nova founder, Dan Heims. The plant was subsequently named and introduced in 2001 by Diana Reeck of Collector's Nursery. The vigorous clumps are topped, starting in early April, with spider-like flowers, composed of bright pink cups and complementary bright pink spurs...a very nice deer-resistant selection. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
This deer-resistant selection of the deciduous Japanese Epimedium grandiflorum arose in the garden of the late Harold Epstein...a probable rendezvous between Epimedium 'Yubae' and Epimedium 'Silver Queen'. I understand Harold actually encouraged this in his garden as long as he got to watch. The green foliage, which emerges chocolate/purple, is topped with large purple-and-white bicolor flowers in spring...still quite rare commercially, so get 'em while they last. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
This dwarf selection of the deciduous Japanese native, Epimedium grandiflorum, comes to us via famed German plantsman, Ernst Pagels. In mid-spring, the new ear-shaped foliage emerges with a dramatic bronzy-lavender color. Alongside the foliage, the 10" tall flower spikes emerge, each clothed with spidery violet flowers...extremely cute! I recommend planting this fairy wing near a rock or other garden element for the best visual effect. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
We are delighted to again offer this hard-to-find selection of Epimedium grandiflorum from our friend Pierre Bennerup of Sunny Border, via Darrell Probst. Epimedium 'Pierre's Purple' features stunning, large purple flowers unlike any color we have seen on an epimedium. The flowers emerge just prior to the new foliage on this deciduous deer-resistant clumping selection. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
Epimedium 'Red Queen' is a magnificent Japanese selection of Epimedium grandiflorum that boasts large (6" long x 4" wide) heart-shaped leaves on a tight-clumping epimedium. In spring, the deer-resistant clumps are topped with stunning rose-red flowers...one of the most brilliantly colored epimediums we have seen. We'd like to lobby for a domestic partnership arrangement with, say, Epimedium 'Purple Prince' or perhaps Epimedium 'Amber Queen'...your preference. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
Wow!...That's the only word we could find to express our reaction when we first saw a clump of Epimedium 'Bandit'. This truly distinctive epimedium emerges with small leaves that are surrounded by a 1/2" wide "hand painted" border of dark burgundy-purple. Atop the amazing foliage are large clusters of contrasting, creamy-white flowers. Epimedium 'Bandit' was originally purchased unnamed in Japan by We-Du Nursery and named in 2000 by epimedium guru, Darrell Probst. We are thrilled to be able to share this superb deer-resistant selection with our customers! Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
Epimedium lishihchenii 'Golden Earrings' is our 2012 introduction...a seedling selection of the rare species from China's Jiangxi Province that was just named in 1997. We selected Epimedium 'Golden Earrings' as the most floriferous of the Epimedium lishihchenii clones we grow. The 18" tall x 4' wide (5 years) spreading patches are composed of large (7" x 3"), attractive evergreen leaflets, and topped with upright panicles of large yellow flowers with downward pointing spurs. Epimedium lishihchenii (like the similar Epimedium franchetii) is one of the earlier epimedium species to flower, starting here in late March and continuing through April. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
This spectacular hybrid (Epimedium perralderianum x Epimedium pinnatum ssp. colchicum) from Germany's Heinz Klose has superbly red mottled leaves in spring. In April (NC), Epimedium 'Frohnleiten' clumps are topped with panicles of large butter-yellow flowers...a great woodland specimen. This spreading fairy wing (6-8" per year) is evergreen from Zone 6 southward. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
Epimedium 'Pink Champagne' is one of the finest epimediums to ever hit the market from the hand of breeder Darrell Probst. The long, tapered evergreen leaves are heavily speckled with large, dark purple blotches. Starting in early April, the 2' tall x 2' wide clumps of Epimedium 'Pink Champagne' are laden with 15" long floral spikes, each dripping with flowers composed of large white spurs attached to a dramatic raspberry cup...simply superb! Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
This Robin White hybrid was derived from a rendezvous of Epimedium leptorrhizum and Epimedium pubescens. The evergreen, deer-resistant foliage of Epimedium 'Pink Elf' adorns a 1' tall x 2' wide clump, topped in early spring with flower stalks laden with an abundance of tiny, airy light pink flowers. Each pink flower is highlighted by a darker bronze cup...very cute. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
(aka: E. PDN 05-16) This 2010 PDN introduction is our 2005 seedling selection of the deciduous Epimedium grandiflorum that has proved outstanding in our trials. Epimedium 'Pink Parasol' is the most vigorous Epimedium grandiflorum we grow, quickly forming a 22" tall x 30" wide clump. Starting in late March and continuing until early May (NC), Epimedium 'Pink Parasol' produces spikes of large rosy-lavender flowers held just above the bronze-emerging deer-resistant foliage. We think you are going to really like this. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
Epimedium 'Pretty in Pink' is a 2012 Plant Delights introduction that is in a word...marvelous. This vigorous Epimedium grandiflorum hybrid forms a 3' wide clump of tardily deciduous foliage. In spring, the foliage emerges with a delicious raspberry and green pattern and is topped, starting in late March, with very upright stalks of large pink-spurred flowers highlighted by a raspberry cup...simply superb! Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
We are pleased to introduce Epimedium pubescens 'Snowflakes'...a running form of the typically clumping Epimedium pubescens. Epimedium 'Snowflakes' makes a 6" tall x 3' wide patch of evergreen foliage, topped, starting in mid-March, with spikes of dainty white flowers held 6" above the foliage...charming! Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
