Epimedium 'Egret'

Barrenwort Berberidaceae

A particularly elegant Barrenwort, ‘Egret’ is a handsome evergreen hybrid whose flowers are rather more flamboyant than its modest stature might suggest. In spring, the fresh, leathery foliage emerges with attractive bronze-red colouring before settling to deep green. Above it, wiry, branching stems carry large, pure-white, reflexed sepals surrounding delicate pale-yellow petals—a wonderfully airy combination that explains the name rather better than any ornithological investigation is likely to.

The cultivar is associated with the Epimedium collection of Roger and Linda Hammond and is generally attributed to the cross E. franchetii × E. latisepalum. We would avoid assigning breeder status without firmer primary evidence; Epimedium nomenclature has accumulated rather more folklore than some of its plants have accumulated leaves.

Slow-growing but rewarding, it makes an excellent long-lived groundcover for moist, humus-rich soil in partial to full shade, where the flowers can be appreciated at close range.

Height: 30cm
Spread: 30–40cm
Flowering: April–May
Hardiness: H6, approximately −20 to −15°C
Aspect: Partial to full shade
Soil: Moist, humus-rich and well drained
Foliage: Evergreen