Plant Talk: Stunning & Statuesque Fairy Wings

Over the years, I've grown several Epimedium (commonly known as barrenwort or fairy wings), but none has captured my attention like Epimedium sp. 'The Giant'.  And I'm here to tell you, the name absolutely fits.  

Tower of (Ethereal) Power:  Epimedium sp. 'The Giant' rises (delicately) far above the rest!

I actually purchased this in 2016 as a sort of challenge.  When I read the Edelweiss Perennials catalog description for an Epimedium bloom that reached "5 feet tall," I thought, FIVE FEET TALL???  Seriously??  And then I thought, Let's see about that.  I mean, even if it underwhelmed at half that height, it would still be impressive as heck, right?  How could I NOT buy it?

Over the years, I've planted 20 different kinds of Epimedium.  I've killed half... some of them more than once.  (Don't judge me; I'm stubborn AND I'm a real gardener.)  The problem came from what I kept reading and hearing at. the time: that they were "perfect" for the toughest spots in the garden--dry shade.  That is not entirely true.  (Lesson(s) learned.)  While some will survive in those conditions, there's a big difference between surviving and thriving.  The secret to ... is "thrival" a word? ... is decently-draining soil with plenty of leafmold and humus mixed in to encourage a cool, loose root run.  So I found a place with really good loamy soil--at the base of a large Magnolia grandiflora--to plant my 4" pot of 'The Giant'. 

Every other type of fairy wings with which I've been successful has blooming stems that top out at 14" on their very best day.  Mind you, they're not under-performing; that's how tall they're supposed to get.  I just went out and measured the tallest stem of 'The Giant' and it is currently topping out at a whopping 55 1/2"!  That's four feet, seven and a half inches, for those of you keeping score at home.  Wait, did you even SEE what I typed there??  FOUR FEET, SEVEN AND A HALF INCHES!!  

Challenge accepted and WINNING!

 

 

The ginormity doesn't stop there.  The flowers up close are big--about two inches across--and so cool!  On the stem, they almost look as if they're floating in mid-air because the stems are so thin... which brings me to the only fault I can find with it: the need for staking.  Well, I guess it's only a "need" if you aren't fond of the sprawling look, which I kind of don't want in that particular spot.  I only say "kind of" because I stake up a few stems and let the others laze about as they will.  

Dances with Wings...  Some of the coolest spidery flowers I've ever seen!

 

This is its 5th year flowering for me, and I currently count ten blooming stems.  That may not sound like very many, but the one thing 'The Giant' isn't huge on is spreading quickly.  It's a little pokey, and I've recently chopped a couple divisions from it to share with keen gardening friends.

Epimedium sp. 'The Giant' is not widely available.  Edelweiss Perennials no longer lists it, but they have a LOT of other very cool plant material from which to choose, so definitely check them out.  (Support independent nurseries, people!  We need them!)  I currently find two sources for it: Plant Delights Nursery and Far Reaches Farm.  'The Giant' isn't cheap, but it's worth every precious penny.  In the words of Hayes Jackson, "Don't be dumb; git you some!"

 

Until next time, I remain...

Yours in Dirt,

Andrea