Epimediums are lovely, airy plants that give the impression of fragility. Not so. Epimediums are tough little plants that can take a nasty winter and bounce back in the spring with a flourish of dainty flowers. There are many epimedium cultivars available to home gardeners. I have three varieties. Pictured above is Epimedium x versicolor ‘Sulphureum’.
It takes its name from its yellow flowers, which look a bit like tiny daffodils. The way the flowers dangle from the arching stems reminds me a bit of fushia’s pink dancers.
The resemblance is more notable in my other two plants. The taller of the two is Epimedium x rubrum, which reaches about a foot and a half in height.
Rubrum features sprays of pretty pink and white flowers, while to its left is Epimedium grandiflorum ‘Red Beauty’, with darker rose flowers. Epimediums enjoy a partly shaded location in the garden.
Willow House Chronicles 
These plants have intrigued me for several years now, but I almost never see them at the nurseries I frequent. Last week, though, there was one, just one epimedium plant, which got snapped up and is now tucked into the Silver Maple bed that showcases small pretties. It’s an Epimedium youngianum ‘Rosea’. The label photos shows flowers about halfway between your ‘Sulphurea’ and rubrum in colour — a happy medium epimedium?
Oh, good find, Dandy! Epimediums haven’t been available to home gardeners for as long as some old stables like peonies, but are growing in popularity.
These look really lovely- I’ll add them to my list of plants to consider I’m always wanting to tuck plants in around the bases of trees- maybe these would fit the bill.
Angela, they do add a pleasing airy touch, lighter than hostas, a good foil maybe. The flowers don’t last too long, but the heart-shaped leaves are also pretty.