Epimedium latisepalum - Barrenwort

These small undershrubs with evergreen or deciduous foliage owe their name to the lightness of their flowers. These very beautiful shade plants can be grown in flower beds or in a large shady rockery, preferably along a path to fully appreciate their great beauty. They can withstand temperatures as low as -12°C (10.4°F) or -13°C (8.6°F) without any protection. The western species are very cold-resistant and 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 cool to moist in summer and is well-drained, rich in humus and without limestone, and also tolerate dense shade. They all grow relatively slowly, but they live for many years without any special care.

A creeping crown with spreading evergreen foliage of tough, light green to dark green, elongated heart-shaped leaves, 12 cm (5in) long and 7 cm (3in) wide, with weakly spiny edges. Its graceful stems, well above the foliage, bear very large flowers with white sepals and petals with long cream spurs, with a touch of purple at their junction. A rare species, slow to establish, but very spectacular.