Epimedium 'The Giant'

[JohnH]

Does anyone here grow, or know anything about Epimedium 'The Giant'.
I have been looking for larger Epimedium in general, and this one in particular, for quite sometime.
A few nurseries list 'The Giant' (and even a red flowered one!) but they never seem to be in stock.
https://www.pennysprimulas.co.uk/shop/p ... -cc012062/

Is it difficult to propagate?

[Chad]

Nick Macer has stocked it in the past.

I haven't seen it in the flesh.

Chad

[Paul S]

I have one - courtesy of Sean Barton - small, planted a year ago, still small. Be interesting to see how big it gets this year.

[JohnH]

Happily, Staddon Farm Nurseries do a waiting list and I have joined the queue.
Penny got back to my email very quickly, they generally divide in May and release new plants in November.

I do rather like Epimedium, but some of the more choice varieties can be a challenge to grow.

[Paul S]

I love epimediums - the key for me is to get them established. If I can they are impervious to drought, even the fancy ones like wushanense, if the soil is good enough to start with. My favourite at the moment is 'Spine Tingler'. Coincidentally I bought another six just yesterday, plus another couple of varieties.

I am making changes to one of the old bits of my garden 'drought proofing' it. Lots of mahonia - I am calling it my 'Mahoniarium' which, if it wasn't a word before it is now. And epimediums are only really herbaceous mahonias, aren't they. :lol: Perhaps I should be less specific and start calling it the Berberidacearium (trips off the tongue nicely, that one) and stick some Nandina in there as well.

Speaking of which - anyone got a handle on the hokey cokey that Mahonia is doing at the moment? A few weeks back we were supposed to be calling them all Berberis but I read yesterday that most of them were back home in Mahonia again, although precisely which ones didn't make the return leg I am not sure.

[Karl66]

Paul... out of curiosity when you mention planting mahonia's...I personally love ally types but are you talking one's such as 'winter Sunshine ''?... almost everyone who visits my garden looks down there nose at them :roll: ...they are a grow almost anywhere plant & look fantastic planted repetitively.

[AndyC]

I've just received my capy of the RHS Garden magazine which this month has an article on Epimediums.
The headline picture is of E. 'Spine Tingler', a very striking looking plant.

[Paul S]

Karl - any and all. Species, hybrids, Tex/Mex or Asian - bring 'em on. A good plant is a good plant, matters not if it is common or rare.

Andy - yes, great picture isn't it! I am surprised there were any left at the nursery.

[Chad]

Speaking of which - anyone got a handle on the hokey cokey that Mahonia is doing at the moment? A few weeks back we were supposed to be calling them all Berberis but I read yesterday that most of them were back home in Mahonia again, although precisely which ones didn't make the return leg I am not sure.

Nuclear or plastid DNA is giving different answers.

The linked paper is a bit technical and some of the discussion goes over my head!

I have a pragmatic approach; I follow Kew's current decisions, then I don't have to think too much myself.

Chad

[Paul S]

Thanks Chad. The Kew link won't open for me at the moment. I'll probably still call them all mahonia, whatever it says! :D