Epimedium Farges' Fairy Wings

Farges’s Fairy Wings is a strong growing, clumping plant that oozes charm. The flowers are swept back, creating an air of elegance. Their white sepals, deep purple sepals and long anthers and stamens are eye catching and abundant. The flowers open in groups of up to 25 on a stem. A lovely, vigorous species that will easily find its way into your heart.

The elongated, heart shaped leaves of Farges’s Fairy Wings emerge with red veins, and mature to mid green, with the cold weather they can also take on a purple blush.

This plant was named after French Missionary, Paul Farges, who collected the species in 1894, from the Sichuan province of China.

Epimediums have a lot to offer, and the prosper in the most inhospitable of conditions, dry shade. They are clump forming, rhizomatous perennials native to woodland areas. They grow best in humus rich, well drained soils. Plant in a part shade to filtered light position.

Epimediums are good for planting beneath trees or shrubs such as Hydrangeas, in shaded borders, as shady ground covers or, in well cared for pots.

Fertilise and mulch Epimediums in winter, they love the soil to be rich in composting leaves so don't hold back with dumping them on when they fall in autumn. They spread by underground rhizomes, at a moderate rate, it is no brute. Divide your Epimedium clumps every 3-5 years and don’t forget to protect new foliage from the threat of slugs and snails.

Cut back your Epimedium foliage late winter or spring, to allow the new leaves and flowers to shine, just as you would a Hellebore/Winter Rose.

Epimediums are also known as Barrenwort, Bishop’s Hats and Horny Goat Weed.