Epimedium pubigerum Orangekönigin - Barrenwort

The Epimedium pubigerum 'Orangekönigin’ is a variety of Elf Flower or Epimedium that is beautifully colored, both in flowers and foliage: its delicate orange flowers bloom on a spring foliage that is tender green tinged with bronze, which will take on beautiful coral orange tones in autumn that will persist more or less through winter. This ground-covering perennial is part of those plants that, like ivy, provide a good solution for greening difficult areas, such as dry shade that reigns under large trees, even if the soil is full of rocks. Attractive almost all year round and truly undemanding, 'Orangekönigin' is an excellent ground cover that combines usefulness with pleasure.

Belonging to the berberidaceae family, Epimedium 'Orangekönigin' comes, among others, from a plant called Epimedium pubigerum, originally from regions surrounding the south border of the Black Sea (mainly Turkey), which tolerates drought once established. The variety 'Orangekönigin' is also marketed under the name Epimedium x warleyense Orangekonigin. Epimedium (x) warleyense is a hybrid between E. alpinum and E. pinnatum subsp. colchicum, obtained in England at Warley Place in Essex.

This rhizomatous plant sometimes takes a little time to establish, but it eventually forms beautiful evergreen carpets, with a loose clump habit, that can evoke certain heucheras when in bloom. An adult plant will reach approximately 35-40 cm (14-16in) in height and 40-50 cm (16-20in) in spread. It produces, in late spring (usually from April to May), delicate small star-shaped flowers of 2 cm (1in) in size. Composed of coppery orange sepals and yellow petals, they are perched on graceful and flexible stems. It is from this elegance and finesse that it derives its name "Elf Flower". Its foliage, often marcescent, does not completely disappear in winter. It consists of small heart-shaped leaves that emerge pale green tinged with bronze and purple in spring, forming a beautiful contrast with the orange flowers. Before drying out in winter, the leaves take on bronze to rose-orange colors.

The Elf Flower thrives in shady conditions and tolerates root competition from other plants, which allows it to be used to dress the base of trees and bushes. A plant for light woodland, it tolerates light sun and is hardy to at least -15°C. 'Orangekönigin' adapts to almost all ordinary soils, even poor and rocky ones, which allows it to be planted in a shady rockery. It is a good plant to effectively cover and flower difficult areas, but it would be a shame to confine it to a utilitarian ground cover role: accompanied by astilbes, Ferns, Cyclamen, Foxgloves, Euphorbias, and sweet woodruff, it will compose a superb lightly shaded border.