Epimedium 'Spine Tingler'

About this cultivar:

Epimedium 'Spine Tingler' is a 2008 introduction from Darrell Probst sometimes called 'Sphinx Twinkler'. Named for its dark green almost finger like spiny margined leaves that take on a slight coppery-blush tint and can even be a rich-burgundy-brown. Worth havign for the foliage alone it reminds me a bit of Morina.

Soft yellow flowers bloom on compact plants in mid to late spring. Unlike other Epimedium that send flowers first, followed by foliage, 'Spine Tingler' sends flowers and foliage up at the same time. A cross between some as-yet-unnamed-Chinese-species it has the Royal Horticultural Society Award of Garden Merit.

• Position: Full shade, partial shade, full shade
• Soil: Almost any soil, grows well in Ballyrobert
• Flowers: March, April, May
• Other features: Royal Horticultural Society Award of Garden Merit (RHS AGM), Grows well in Ballyrobert, Great Ground Cover, Dappled Shade or Full Shade Loving, Interesting Foliage or Fruit
• Hardiness: H6 - Hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15°C), Fully hardy - grows well in Ballyrobert!
• Habit: Clump forming
• Foliage: Semi evergreen
• Height: 15 - 25 cm (0.5 - 0.75 ft)
• Spread: 45 - 75 cm (1.5 - 2.5 ft)
• Time to full growth: 2 to 5 years
• Plant type: Herbaceous Perennial
• Colour: Green, yellow
• Goes well with: -

About this genus:

Epimedium has many common names such as barrenwort, bishop's hat, fairy wings, horny goat weed, rowdy lamb herb, randy beef grass or yin yang huo (Chinese of course). No prizes then for guessing its traditional medicinal uses! A member of the barberry family, the genus was given its Botanical name by Carl Linnaeus in 1753, derived from a Greek word for a different plant, epimedion. The vast bulk of Epimedium species are deciduous or evergreen hardy perennials. 

Easy-to-grow - they will grow anywhere that isn't a pond. Despite being best known as a full shade plant many will also grow in full sun ( see the photo of the cultivars we have in pots!).

Epimedium welcome spring with delicate airy flowers. Following which a solid backdrop of attractive foliage appears and remains for the rest of the season. Flowers range from white to red to yellow to pink, and the foliage shows some variation between cultivars and the seasons; green to brown to purple. A versatile plant!

In the garden Epimedium will rarely make the casual observer stop and stare but these shade lovers are essential in many gardens. Epimedium are most often used either as woodland garden specimens or ground cover for small shady areas - but don't let that stop you using them in all sorts of places, even rock gardens. We find they make great impact as ground cover - full shade or full sun!