Japanese name: バイカイカリソウ（梅花碇草） Scientific name:Epimedium diphyllum subsp. diphyllum
[Overview]
A perennial 20–30 cm tall, found in deciduous forests and at forest edges.
The leaves are 1–2 times biternate compound.
The leaflets are ovate, 2.5–5 cm long and 2–3.5 cm wide, with spiny hairs on the leaf margins absent or only slightly present.
Fine hairs grow on the underside of the leaves.
A raceme emerges at the stem tip and bears several white flowers 1–1.2 cm across.
It is a relative of Ikarisou (Epimedium), but has no spurs and the flowers are shaped like plum blossoms.
The fruit is a follicle.
[Uses]
It is used medicinally.
[Cultivation]
Propagate from seed or by division.
From winter through the flowering period, keep it in a sunny place; in summer, keep it in a cool place with bright shade.
Also protect it from cold winter winds.
For plants 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 necessary, but for potted plants diluted liquid fertilizer may be given in spring and autumn.
There are no particular pests or diseases.
