Epimedium wushanense 'Spiny-Leaved Form' CC014631

Barrenwort Berberidaceae

An Epimedium with a serious attitude problem—and foliage to match. CC 014631 is one of the remarkable spiny-leaved forms of Epimedium wushanense, collected in China by Darrell Probst and introduced through his Garden Vision programme. The RHS currently accepts the plant under E. wushanense ‘Spiny-leaved’, while some specialist collections have used the provisional name E. wushanense nova. 

The evergreen leaves are the main event: enormous, glossy and heavily armed, with individual leaflets reaching around 15cm, giving the plant an almost Mahonia-like appearance. In spring, congested panicles of creamy-white and butter-yellow flowers rise above the foliage, while the emerging leaves often carry handsome red, bronze and purple tones.

A superb architectural Epimedium for shade, forming a slowly expanding clump rather than racing across the woodland floor. Give it humus-rich, moisture-retentive soil for best performance, although established plants are remarkably tolerant of dry shade.

Height: 40–50cm | Spread: 50–70cm
Flowering: April–May | Foliage: Evergreen
Hardiness: H6 (-20 to -15°C)