Epimedium elongatum - Barrenwort

Epimedium elongatum is a Fairy Flower native to China that combines several qualities: vigorous, evergreen, and resistant to cold and drought. This plant forms a dense carpet of large leaves from which long inflorescences with delicate flowers and large very bright yellow spurs emerge in spring. This perennial is one of those plants that, like ivy, provide a good solution for difficult areas, such as dry shade under large trees. Attractive all year round and very undemanding, it is an excellent ground cover that combines utility and pleasure.

Belonging to the Berberidaceae family, Epimedium elongatum is native to the Chinese province of Sichuan, where it grows in woodlands, thickets, and forest edges, at altitudes between 2,600 and 3,700 metres (8 and 12 feet). It has a moderately long and creeping rhizome, but is not invasive. It may take time to establish, but eventually forms a dense carpet approximately 35-40 cm (14-16in) high and 40-50 cm (16-20in) in spread. Flowering occurs in late spring, usually May. Floral panicles emerge from the leaf carpet, 50-60 cm (20-24in) from the ground. Each panicle carries 17 to 30 flowers measuring 2.5 to 3 cm (1in) in diameter. Each flower hangs towards the ground and resembles a columbine, composed of violet inner sepals and much longer light yellow petals with horizontal or incurved spurs. These flowers are borne on slender and flexible stems. It is from this elegance and delicacy that it gets its name "Fairy Flower". Its foliage does not disappear during normal winters. It consists of large leaves divided into 3 to 5 light green leaflets from 1.5 to 7.5 cm (1 to 3in) long and 1 to 6 cm (1 to 2in) wide, with a woolly underside, heart-shaped base, pointed tips, and toothed edges.

The Fairy Flower thrives in shady locations and tolerates root competition from other plants, making it suitable for the base of trees and bushes. As a plant of lightly shaded woodlands, it tolerates some sunlight and is hardy to at least -15°C (5°F). Epimedium elongatum adapts to almost all ordinary soils, even dry and rocky, allowing it to be planted in a shaded rock garden. It is a useful plant for effectively covering difficult areas, but it would be a shame to confine it to a role of utilitarian ground cover: accompanied by liverworts, hellebores, ferns, cyclamen, foxgloves, euphorbias, and sweet woodruff, it will make a beautiful group for light shade.