Epimedium brachyrrhizum - Barrenwort

Epimedium brachyrrhizum is a charming Fairy Wings originating from China with beautiful, large, long-spurred pink flowers and spring shoots beautifully tinged with pinkish-purple. An excellent ground cover perennial for the base of trees, this epimedium eventually forms a dense, low carpet of dark olive green leaves marbled with brown that often persists in winter, if the frosts are not too severe.

Native to the scrubland and forests of the Chinese province of Guizhou where it was discovered in 1994, Epimedium brachyrrhizum is a hardy perennial with a low, spreading growth habit. It is a plant with short rhizomes that establishes itself quite slowly, forming a 15-20 cm (6-8in) high carpet, occupying about 40 cm (16in) of ground. It produces lovely flowers in April-May, hanging down towards the ground, reaching up to 5 cm (2in) in diameter, resembling columbines. They are composed of 4 light lavender pink petals with long spurs, somewhat like spiders, perched on slender and flexible stems 35-40 cm (14-16in) tall. It is from this elegance and delicacy that it gets its name "Fairy Wings". Its foliage is usually evergreen (it may disappear during very cold winters), divided into three tough and toothed leaflets. The young leaves are pinkish-purple, then turn light green and finally become a dark olive green marbled with brown.

Fairy Wings thrives in shady conditions and tolerates root competition from other plants, which allows it to be used to cover the base of trees and shrubs in regions that are not too dry in summer. Epimedium is exquisite when scattered in sparse clumps, it is a useful plant for shaded, often neglected areas. It would be a shame to confine it to a utilitarian ground cover role: accompanied by Hepatica nobilis, small ferns, Hostas, shade-loving perennial geraniums (nodosum and macrorrhizum), Foxgloves, Candelabra Primroses, and sweet woodruff, fairy wings will create a beautiful light shade border. Ideal in zen gardens, Epimedium brachyrrhizum can also be used in moist rockeries, containers, or as edging. To make it an effective ground cover, plant 7 per square metre.