Epimedium x youngianum Merlin - Barrenwort

Small. evergreen, understorey shrubs or deciduous perennials, which owe their name to the lightness of their flowers. These very beautiful shade plants can be cultivated in borders or in a large shady rockery, preferably along a path to fully enjoy their great beauty. They can all withstand temperatures as low as  -13°C (8.6°F) without any protection. The highly cold-resistant western species can tolerate difficult conditions, such as living in dense shade under trees, in very dry soil or in moist clay soil.  The Asian species prefer a soil that remains damp to moist in summer, well-drained, rich in humus, without limestone, and can also tolerate dense shade. They all grow relatively slowly, but can live for many years in one place without any special care.

This is a very pretty hybrid with slower growth than others, suitable for a small garden. Small deciduous, ovate, asymmetrical leaves are very bright pale green in the shade, seeming to be suspended in the air, due to the thin petioles that bear them. It is also the easiest dwarf species to cultivate. In our garden, the clumps measure up to 40 cm (16in) in diameter and are very beautiful in a Japanese atmosphere alongside primroses, hostas... In this very compact variety, the flowers are pale pink.