Long-spurred Blooms for the Shade
Drought tolerant once established
Synonym: 'Lilac Fairy' If it sounds decadent to grow Epimedium as a groundcover, you haven't seen this super-vigorous, large variety take off! Dotted with lavender-pink blooms by the many dozen in spring, this Bishop's Hat slowly spreads in the shade, tolerating even the poor dry soil beneath trees. What a fine way to carpet the garden floor! Beginning before winter ends in warmer climates, these lavender-pink blooms are held just above the 3-inch leaves on slim, wiry stems. They continue into mid-spring, very profuse and so eye-catching. But even after they pass, 'Lilafee' is interesting, thanks to foliage color changes over three seasons. The new spring leaves emerge a shade of beige tinted with red, then turn green for summer and finally blazing bright red in fall. A dense, well-branched plant, 'Lilafee' is a very slow spreader, reaching 15 to 18 inches high and 18 inches wide over time. It fares best in loose, rich soils that are evenly moist, but it stands up to drought quite well once established. An excellent choice for edging pathways or creating handsome drifts in woodland settings, it thrives in partial shade.
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