- Elven flower: flower, origin and properties
- The most beautiful types of elven flowers
- Planting Elf Flower: Location, Time & Procedure
- Care for the elf flower: pruning, watering and fertilizing
- Propagate Elf Flower
- Wintering
- Is the elf flower poisonous?
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The shade-tolerant elven flower is particularly suitable as an underplanting and as a ground cover. We give tips on choosing a variety, planting and propagating the elf flower.
One of the best-known shade plants is the elf flower. We introduce you to the most beautiful Epimedium species and varieties and give tips on planting and care.
Elven flower: flower, origin and properties
The elven flower (Epimedium), also known as the sock flower, belongs to the barberry family (Berberidaceae). Its approximately 60 species and natural hybrids are found in Asia, Africa and Europe in the northern hemisphere. The deciduous or evergreen perennials overwinter with the help of their rhizomes, some of which form runners. Elf flowers reach a height of between 15 and 40 centimeters. Their leaves are ovate, heart-shaped, lanceolate-elongated or almost round in shape. The edge of the leaf can be serrated or slightly thorny. The shoots in spring are often bronze or reddish, in autumn the foliage is usually wine-red-green to violet-red. The flowering period of the elfin flower begins in April, sometimes before or during the leaves sprout. The fourfold flowers consist of four inner and four outer petals and can form elongated spurs depending on the species. After pollination, capsule fruits form, inside which there are numerous seeds with a conspicuous seed coat. Ants love to feed on the nutritious coat, spreading the Elfflower seeds around.
Is the elven flower bee-friendly? The elven flower is a bee perennial. Smaller wild bees in particular use the nectar and pollen offered by the often delicate elfin flowers. Large-flowered species such as Epimedium versicolor are also visited by honey bees.
The most beautiful types of elven flowers
Elven flowers are available in different types and varieties, which differ in growth, flower size and color. We present you the 10 most beautiful species and varieties of the Epimediumbefore.
- Epimedium alpinum: Alpine elven flower from south-eastern Europe with deciduous foliage and a growth height of up to 40 cm. The wild species with runners forms dainty panicles with up to 25 red-yellow individual flowers.
- Epimedium grandiflorum: The large-flowered elfin flower originally comes from Japan. It has a deciduous, clumpy growth of up to 25 cm and long, spurred, large, orchid-like flowers. The elf flower 'Lilafee' is bronze-colored when it shoots and delicate purple, filigree flowers from April.
- Epimedium pauciflorum: Few-flowered elfin flower with a low habit and 15 - 20 cm in height. Popular as groundcover as the short runners form a dense, evergreen carpet. The rather weak species shows pale pink to creamy white flowers.
- Epimedium x perralchicum: Hybrid species with dense growth up to 30 cm and almost evergreen leaves. Elf flower 'Frohnleiten' is the best-known variety and can be planted as ground cover. The leaves turn a pretty red in autumn while the veins remain light green. The delicate flowers of the hybrid Epimedium 'Frohnleiten' set yellow accents.
- Epimedium pinnatum ssp. colchicum: Black Sea elven flower with vigorous growth and almost evergreen leaves. The delicate, light yellow flowers appear from April. The 'Black Sea' variety turns its leaves dark purple in autumn and winter. It is particularly suitable for use over a wide area, including under shrubs and trees.
- Epimedium pubigerum: Downy elfin flower with hardy evergreen leaves and clumpy growth up to 25 cm in height. The short-spiked, light yellow flowers are on long peduncles.
- Epimedium x rubrum: Red elven flower, created by crossing E. alpinum and E. grandiflorum. The clumpy, deciduous plants have red-brown leaves and bicolored red-white flowers. The particularly floriferous variety 'Galadriel' can be used well as a ground cover.
- Epimedium versicolor 'Sulphureum': Very vigorous sulfur elven flower up to 35 cm and with strong spreading. The sulphur-yellow flowers appear from April to May. In autumn, the foliage of the 'Sulphureum' elfflower turns bronze.
- Epimedium xwarleyense: The deciduous hybrid elven flower, up to 30 cm high, forms runners and is therefore ground-covering. Epimedium 'Orangekönigin' is also available as 'Orange Queen' and has numerous delicate orange-red flowers.
- Epimedium x youngianum: Low, deciduous hybrid of E. grandiflorum x E. diphyllum, between 15 and 20 cm high. The variety of Epimedium x youngianum 'Niveum' has spurless, white flowers and a graceful growth and is ideal for underplanting.
Elven flowers as ground cover: The following types of elven flowers are particularly suitable as ground cover: Epimedium pauciflorum, Epimediumx perralchicum 'Frohnleiten', Epimedium pinnatum ssp. colchicum and Epimedium x warleyense.
Planting Elf Flower: Location, Time & Procedure
Epimedium is an adaptable perennial for partial shade to full shade in general. Locations that are too bright endanger hibernation due to late frosts, few flowers are formed in locations that are too dark. The ideal location for elf flowers is on fresh, loose, low-lime and slightly acidic, humus-rich soil. Soil that is too heavy or sandy can be improved with a high-quality potting soil, such as our Plantura organic potting soil. In addition, clay flour increases the water storage capacity of the soil.
Elfflowers are planted in late autumn, between October and the end of November before the first frosts, or in early spring from the beginning of March. They can be planted under shrubs and trees or in shady beds. Epimedium prefers to be planted in small groups of three to ten plants and is most attractive this way. The planting distance for elfin flowers is about 30 to 40 cm. For ground cover you need about 15 to 17 plants per square meter. The perennials are planted as deep as they were previously in the pot. In the course of three to four years, the foothills of growing species have taken over the new location. Elf flowers usually bloom in the first spring after planting.
Care for the elf flower: pruning, watering and fertilizing
You don't necessarily have to cut the elf flower. However, it can make room for new growth if the old leaves are removed after winter, around March.
The elfin flower is an easy-care perennial that hardly needs any attention after planting. OneA layer of mulch between the freshly planted perennials protects them from drought and heat. More sensitive species from Asia, such as E. grandiflorum and E. pubescens, should be watered regularly during the hot season. Southern species, such as E. perralchicum and E. pinnatum, are more hardy and tolerate heat and drought well.
Fertilization can be done annually in spring as needed. A predominantly organic long-term fertiliser, such as our Plantura organic flower fertiliser, should be scattered loosely over the stock of elf flowers from March if the ground is frost-free. It is best to water well afterwards so that the nutrients are released quickly.
Propagate Elf Flower
The simplest method of propagation is to divide existing clumps. In late spring after flowering, the rhizomes of the elven flowers can be divided using a spade, dug up and replanted in the appropriate place.
Alternatively, elven flowers can also be propagated using rhizome cuttings. For this purpose, the rhizomes of excavated plants are cut into pieces about 5 cm long with a sharp knife. Then the rhizome pieces are placed horizontally in nutrient-poor potting soil and covered with substrate about 1 to 2 cm thick. In the coming weeks, the cuttings should be allowed to root in a moist but not wet place in a bright, cool location. The first shoots and leaves will soon appear. Once strong plants have developed, the elf flowers can be transplanted or planted out.
Wintering
In our latitudes, the common types of elfin flowers are very hardy. Freshly planted and deciduous elfin flowers should be given some light winter protection, such as a thick layer of foliage, in harsh locations. The rhizomes only spread just below the soil surface and can therefore be damaged if the temperature is severely below zero.
Is the elf flower poisonous?
The elf flower is considered a slightly poisonous plant. In some countries, however, parts are cooked and thus made edible. In folk medicine, extracts of E. grandiflorum used in certain cancers.
Tip: The two elfin flower species Epimedium macun and Epimedium brevicornum are listed in the traditionalChinese medicine and herbal medicine as a remedy for thyroid problems, high blood pressure and erectile dysfunction.
Ground-covering plants are suitable in many gardens as underplanting or as additional greenery for beds. With us you will discover other bee-friendly ground covers for every location.