There was a very full hall for Sally’s talk, 4 ½ years after a previous visit when her talk was about her other plant love, hydrangeas.

As she had brought some plants from her nursery, (click here for link to nursery website), members had to be called away from the plants to enable her talk to start.

Sally, who has recently written a book on Epimediums, has obviously done a lot of research. The talk was illustrated with pictures of Epimediums and the major players in their introductions and hybridising.

There were plenty of pointers on the cultivation of the different varieties. They are essentially a deciduous woodland plant which gives a clue to their ideal place in the garden. This works for Sally, as she can plant them under her Hydrangeas! The older varieties, she suggests, should have their leaves sheared in February to show off the new seasons flowers.

The grandifloras from Japan are acid lovers and deciduous. They grow well in pots for those of us with high pH. Two other cultivation tips, split after flowering and replant with plenty of leafmould in the bottom of the planting hole.

The definitive reference collection is in the Ghent Botanic Garden.

The vote of thanks was given by Peter Williams.

Report submitted by Pat Hunter

Page image: Epimedium x perralchicum ‘Frohnleiten’ (Image courtesy of HPS image library)