Product Description
Epimedium 'Jester's Hat' PPAF (30)ct Flat
Epimedium 'Jester's Hat' is a playful and vibrant new cultivar of Barrenwort that promises to add a touch of whimsy and bright color to your shade garden. This variety is distinguished by its predominantly golden yellow flowers, accented with striking red coloration on the sepals, creating a cheerful, multi-toned effect reminiscent of a jester's cap. Its medium green leaves take on an attractive burgundy cast in cooler temperatures, adding seasonal interest. 'Jester's Hat' significantly improves upon traditional Epimedium varieties with its larger flower size and exceptionally long flower stems, ensuring that the charming blooms are held high above the foliage for an extended display lasting many weeks in spring. Like other Epimediums, it boasts remarkable durability and critter resistance, making it an excellent choice for challenging dry shade conditions.
'Jester's Hat' forms a graceful yet resilient clump of foliage, typically reaching 18-24 inches in height with a spread of 24-36 inches. The medium green, heart-shaped leaves develop an appealing burgundy tint as temperatures drop, especially in cooler weather. The most prominent feature is its abundant, distinctively colored flowers, borne on exceptionally long, wiry stems that elevate them above the foliage. Each flower features bright golden yellow wings with striking red coloration visible on the top of the sepals, creating a two-toned effect. The flowers are larger than those of many traditional Epimedium varieties. This plant is evergreen, providing continuous foliage interest throughout the year in appropriate climates.
- Foliage: Medium green, turning burgundy in cooler temperatures. Evergreen.
- Flowers: Bright golden yellow with red coloration on the sepals, particularly on top. Large, jester hat-like shape.
- Bloom Time: Mid-Spring to Late Spring, for many weeks.
- Growth Rate: Slow.
- Critter Resistant: Deer Resistant, Rabbit Resistant.
- Seasonal Interest: Evergreen foliage, fall/winter foliage color.
- Fragrance: Not specified, generally not a primary feature of Epimedium.
- Other Features: Drought tolerant once established, easy to grow, excellent ground cover, attractive foliage, suitable for mass planting or as a specimen.
- Height: 18.0-24.0 Inches (45-60 cm)
- Spread: 24.0-36.0 Inches (60-90 cm)
- Hardiness Zones: 5, 6, 7, 8
- Flower Color: Yellow/Gold Shades, Multicolored (yellow and red)
- Foliage Color: Green shades (with burgundy cast in cool temperatures)
- Sunlight: Part Shade (4-6 hours direct sun) to Full Shade (< 4 hours direct sun)
- Water Requirements: Low Water Needs, Average Water Needs
- Soil Quality: Average Soil Quality, Fertile Soil Quality
- Soil Chemistry: Acidic Soil (pH < 7.0), Neutral Soil (pH = 7.0)
- Bloomtime: Mid Spring, Late Spring
- PPAF: Plant Patent Applied For
Epimedium species, commonly known as Barrenwort or Bishop's Hat, are primarily native to woodlands and mountainous regions of Asia (especially China, Korea, and Japan) and parts of Europe. Their natural occurrence in shaded, often rocky or sloped areas informs them of their remarkable adaptability to challenging dry shade conditions.
Landscaping Design Tips
Epimedium 'Jester's Hat' is an exceptional plant for adding cheerful color and fine texture to shaded areas, particularly where other plants struggle.
- Dry Shade Conqueror: This is one of the premier plants for successfully growing in dry shade, making it invaluable for planting under large, established trees that deplete soil moisture.
- Woodland Garden Enchantment: Its delicate yet striking appearance makes it a natural fit for woodland gardens, where it can be allowed to naturalize, forming charming colonies beneath the canopy.
- Vibrant Ground Cover: Plant 'Jester's Hat' in drifts or masses to create a beautiful, durable, and critter-resistant ground cover. Its evergreen nature provides year-round interest, especially useful on slopes or in areas difficult to maintain.
- Shaded Border Accent: Use it as a charming border plant to delineate pathways or the edges of shaded beds, offering early spring color and attractive foliage.
- Asian & Eclectic Styles: The elegant form and unique flower colors of 'Jester's Hat' blend seamlessly into Asian-inspired garden designs and can serve as a captivating focal point in eclectic garden arrangements.
- Specimen Plant: A well-established clump of 'Jester's Hat' can stand alone as a delightful specimen in a prominent shaded spot, allowing its intricate flowers to be admired closely.
- Underplanting: Excellent for underplanting taller shade-loving plants such as Hostas, ferns, or Astilbes, providing a low layer of foliage and an early splash of color.
- Erosion Control: On gentle slopes in shaded areas, its spreading habit and fibrous roots can contribute to erosion control.
Hardiness
Epimedium 'Jester's Hat' is reliably hardy in USDA Zones 5 through 8, demonstrating its ability to withstand a range of winter temperatures and perform well in various climates.
Planting and Cultivation
- Location: Select a site that receives part shade (4-6 hours of direct sun, ideally morning sun) to full shade (less than 4 hours of direct sun). Protection from the intense afternoon sun is beneficial. Its tolerance for dry shade makes it a perfect choice for planting under large, mature trees.
- Soil: 'Jester's Hat' thrives in rich, loose, woodland soils that are evenly moist but well-drained. It adapts well to a wide range of soil conditions, including average or fertile quality, and is tolerant of acidic to neutral pH. While it can survive in less-than-ideal soils, incorporating generous amounts of organic matter (compost, leaf mold) will significantly improve establishment and long-term vigor, especially in heavy clay or very poor soils. Good drainage is paramount.
- Planting:
- Dig a planting hole that is as deep as the root ball and at least twice as wide.
- Carefully remove the plant from its container and gently loosen any circling or matted roots.
- Position the plant in the hole so that the crown (where the stems emerge from the roots) is level with or just slightly below the surrounding soil surface.
- Backfill with the amended soil, gently tamping to ensure good soil-to-root contact and eliminate air pockets.
- Water thoroughly after planting to settle the soil.
- Watering: While establishing, provide consistent moisture to help the plant settle in. Once established, 'Jester's Hat' is highly drought tolerant and can thrive with low to average water needs, making it a low-maintenance option for dry areas.
- Fertilization: In well-amended, fertile soils, additional fertilization is often unnecessary. If your soil is particularly poor, a light application of a balanced, slow-release granular fertilizer in early spring as new growth begins can provide a boost.
- Maintenance:
- Mulching: Applying a layer of organic mulch around the base of the plants helps conserve soil moisture, regulate soil temperature, and, importantly for this slow-growing plant, suppresses weeds that could compete for resources.
- Foliage Trimming: To display the charming spring flowers and encourage a fresh flush of new foliage, it is beneficial to trim off all the old, leathery, and tattered evergreen foliage in late winter or very early spring, just before new growth emerges.
- Pests and Diseases: Epimedium is remarkably resistant to most common garden pests and diseases, contributing to its "easy-to-grow" designation.
- Propagation:
- Division: The most effective method for propagating 'Jester's Hat' is by division. This is best done in early fall. Gently lift the entire clump, and using a sharp knife or spade, divide it into smaller sections, ensuring each section has a healthy portion of roots and dormant buds. Replant the divisions immediately and water well.
Thirty (30) plants per flat (or tray). Approximate Plug Measurements: 3 inches deep x 2 inches wide.
Other Details
The most important part of the plant is its root system. Healthy roots are the foundation of a healthy, vibrant plant. The type of plug container used is based on the specific needs of the plants. Perennials offered as bare root traditionally perform better when planted as bare root.Planted in a specialized mix, potted plants have well established root systems. Top growth stage will vary depending on the current life cycle and time of year when shipped. In Winter and early Spring dormant plants may be shipped. Dormant plants may be planted right away, even before the last frost date.
Most bare root varieties are field grown for at least one season, though Hemerocallis and Hosta are grown for two seasons. The bulk of the soil is removed during the harvesting process and the tops of most varieties are trimmed back to the crown. They are graded, packed in shredded aspen or sphagnum moss and stored in freezers until ready to be shipped.
See our Container Sizes and Bare Root Perennials pages for more information.
Plant information and care is provided in the Overview section, Plant Genus Page and general information is provided in the Planting Care & Guides. Additional questions can be asked on each Plant page.
Plant Spacing: Using the maximum mature spread or width of a plant to guide spacing, ensures space to grow to full size. To fill an area sooner, plant them closer together. Just remember, future thinning or transplanting may be needed.
Water: Keep a close eye on newly planted perennials, especially throughout the first growing year. Most early plant loss is due to too much or too little water!
