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ID please?

debs64debs64 Posts: 4,904
Hi all picked up this little beauty at GC yesterday no label but couldn’t resist. Could I have an ID and maybe some care instructions please? 
Thank you 

Posts

  • Busy-LizzieBusy-Lizzie Posts: 21,695
    edited April 2021
    It's an epimedium. There are several that have white flowers, but they come in other colours, yellow, pink, orange.

    They like dappled shade, even if a bit dry, as they are woodland plants. Good for ground cover under dappled shade. They like leaf mould and compost. At the end of winter you cut off all the leaves from the previous year, they get tatty. Then the new leaves are still low when the flowers come so the flowers rise above the leaves. If you cut them down too late you risk cutting down the flower stems too. They are easy and hardy.
    Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
  • Silver surferSilver surfer Posts: 4,439
    edited April 2021
     At the end of winter you cut off all the leaves from the previous year, they get tatty. Then the new leaves are still low when the flowers come so the flowers rise above the leaves. If you cut them down too late you risk cutting down the flower stems too. They are easy and hardy.
    Sorry to disagree. 
    SOME Epimediums you remove the old deciduous leaves in spring  just before the flowers appear. (The twigs/old leaves help protect the plant from frost and cold during the winter.)
    But others the fancy Chinese ones which may be  evergreen, if you remove the leaves it will kill the plant...eg Epimedium Spine Tingler.

    Perthshire. SCOTLAND .
  • Busy-LizzieBusy-Lizzie Posts: 21,695
    Oh, I didn't know there were fancy Chinese ones @Silver surfer   :o, mine were yellow ones and orange ones of the normal sort. How do you know if it's a fancy Chinese one?
    Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
  • debs64debs64 Posts: 4,904
    Thanks so much I have the perfect spot for it. 
    It was unlabelled so I will keep an eye out for tatty leaves
    such beautiful little flowers. 
    Thanks again for the ID and advice. 
  • Busy-LizzieBusy-Lizzie Posts: 21,695
    There is a photo now from @Silver surfer since I last looked! I have been looking up epimediums and everyone says to cut off the old leaves in late winter/early spring. The RHS and Dorset perennials have Spine Tingler for sale and they say to cut off the old leaves. Epimediums come from China anyway.
    Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
  • debs64debs64 Posts: 4,904
    One last question are they easy to divide/ take cuttings from? 
  • Busy-LizzieBusy-Lizzie Posts: 21,695
    Yes, you divide them in late spring when they've finished flowering or, better, in autumn. Just gently pull them apart.
    Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
  • debs64debs64 Posts: 4,904
    Thanks so much such pretty plants I would definitely like more 
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