Known by many as a simple ground cover for dry woodland shade, Epimediums are finally getting the appreciation that they deserve. This “perfect shade perennial” possesses a delicate beauty that belies its surprisingly tough, long-lasting nature. Karen will illustrate the many and varied types now commercially available, including some of the exciting new evergreen species from China. Characteristics, growth habit, growing and propagation, pests and diseases, and combining Epimediums with other shade perennials in the garden will also be addressed. We will even get a glimpse into the collecting trips to China made by Darrell Probst.

Karen Perkins comes to the nursery business via the botanic garden world, where she spent the first half of her career. Her venture into Epimediums was the result of working alongside plant collector and hybridizer Darrell Probst. He started Garden Vision Epimediums in 1997, both as a way to pay for his plant collecting passion and to preserve the genus, if not in the wild, where it is often over-collected for medicinal use, then in gardens around the world. Karen is the recently retired owner of Garden Vision Epimediums. From 1997–2022 it offered many species and varieties of Epimediums, along with other choice, hard-to-find shade perennials.

Register in advance for this meeting: Zoom Registration Link

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Zoom on February 7, 2023 at 1pm. This program is produced in partnership with the Montshire Museum of Science, and is free and open to the public.