Epimedium Hot Lips

The narrow branching stems almost disappear, allowing the magenta pink flowers to flutter like magical fairies above. There are plenty of flowers to enjoy and are they are a good size.
Grow a nice carpet of colonising foliage with these top ground covers for dry shade. A lovely evergreen choice, the elongated, new leaves have a pink to red blush before aging to green in the summer. While it isn’t as dry tolerant as many of the Epimedium it is worth looking after.
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.