Epimedium perralderianum - Barrenwort

Epimedium perralderianum is a plant native to North Africa that deserves to be planted more often in gardens. It is a vigorous, very floriferous groundcover, evergreen in winter, cold-resistant, comfortable in both sun and dry shade. It bears large glossy leaves beautifully tinged with bronze in spring, from which spring flowers appear which are a very bright yellow in colour. This plant is a good solution for vegetating dry shade under large trees.

Belonging to the Berberidaceae family, Epimedium perralderianum is the only species native to the African continent, more specifically to the mountain range of Babors in Kabylia. In nature, it is found in forests of Afar oak and Atlas cedar, between 1200 and 1300 m (3937 and 4265ft) altitude. It is a plant with running rhizomes, of vigorous growth. It eventually forms a very dense persistent carpet that will measure about 30 cm (12in) in height when flowering. The flowering takes place from March to May depending on the climate. Floral panicles emerge from the carpet of leaves. Each one carries 9 to 25 flowers measuring 1.5 to 2.5 cm (1in) long. Each flower is composed of greenish outer sepals, yellow inner sepals, yellow petals with a small brown spur. Bent towards the ground, it resembles a columbine. These flowers are perched on graceful stems.  Its semi-evergreen foliage does not disappear during normal winters. It consists of large basal leaves measuring up to 6.5 cm (3in) long and 5.5 cm (2in) wide, divided into 3 ovate leaflets, slightly leathery, undulate at the edges, dentate, deeply cordate, tinged with bronze when young. Their colour is a fairly dark green in summer and they often turn bronze to brown with the arrival of autumn.

This Epimedium  tolerates the root competition from other plants well, and can easily be used around the base of trees and bushes. A plant of light woodland, it tolerates light sunlight (in not too dry soil) and proves hardy to at least -15°C (5°F). Epimedium perralderianum adapts to almost all soils, even dry and rocky ones, which allows it to be planted in a shaded rockery. It is a perfect plant to effectively cover and flower difficult areas, but it would be a shame to confine it to the role of utilitarian groundcover: accompanied by liverworts, Hellebores, Ferns, Cyclamen, Foxgloves, it can create a beautiful scene in light shade.