Epimedium ×rubrum (red barrenwort)

Japanese name: エピメディウム ルブルム
Scientific name: Epimedium ×rubrum

[Overview]
A perennial 20–30 cm tall, considered a hybrid of Ikarisou and Epimedium alpinum.
The leaves are 1–3 times ternately compound; the leaflets are ovate with a heart-shaped base, and the leaf margins have spiny hairs.
Young leaves are reddish with green veins, and they turn red again in autumn.
A raceme at the stem tip bears 15–20 four-petaled flowers 2 cm across.
There are 8 sepals; the inner 4 are large and petal-like, while the outer 4 are small and fall early.
The sepals are crimson and the petals are white to cream.

[Cultivation]
Propagate by division.
Keep it in a sunny spot from winter through the flowering period, and in a cool place with bright shade in summer.
Also protect it from cold winter winds.
When planted in the ground, under deciduous trees is good.
It prefers fertile, well-drained soil.
For potted plants, water thoroughly when the soil surface dries; for plants in the ground, rainfall is sufficient unless summer brings a long spell of sunny weather and the soil becomes severely dry.
If base fertilizer is applied, no further fertilizer is particularly needed, but for potted plants diluted liquid fertilizer may be given in spring and autumn.
There are no particular pests or diseases.

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