Product Description
Epimedium 'Woodland Elf' PPAF CPBRAF - Proven Winners® (30)ct Flat
Epimedium 'Woodland Elf' is a charming and resilient Barrenwort cultivar that brings a touch of delicate magic to the shade garden. This variety is celebrated for its ethereal two-toned yellow flowers, featuring soft yellow tips and glowing golden yellow centers. These captivating blooms are borne on incredibly long scapes, extending the flowering period for many weeks in spring. Adding to its appeal, the elongated, lance-like foliage is heavily flecked with burgundy in spring, providing striking seasonal interest even before the flowers fully emerge. 'Woodland Elf' represents a significant improvement in Epimedium breeding, selected specifically for its large flowers and long, well-branched scapes, ensuring a prolonged and captivating floral display. Like other members of its genus, it is remarkably durable, critter-resistant, and one of the few plants truly capable of thriving in challenging dry shade conditions.
'Woodland Elf' forms an elegant clump of foliage, reaching a height of approximately eighteen inches with a spread of 18-24 inches. The foliage is elongated and lance-like, appearing medium green with a distinctive, heavy flecking of burgundy in spring, adding significant visual texture. The plant is semi-evergreen, retaining much of its foliage through winter in milder climates. The flowers are a highlight, featuring soft yellow tips that transition to bright golden yellow centers. These two-toned blooms are held aloft on exceptionally long, well-branched scapes, presenting the flowers prominently above the foliage.
- Foliage: Elongated, lance-like, medium green with heavy burgundy flecking in spring. Semi-evergreen.
- Flowers: Soft yellow tips with golden yellow centers. Large and abundant.
- Bloom Time: Mid-Spring to Late Spring, for an extended period.
- Growth Rate: Slow.
- Critter Resistant: Deer Resistant, Rabbit Resistant.
- Seasonal Interest: Evergreen foliage, spring foliage color.
- 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 Inches (45 cm)
- Spread: 18.0-24.0 Inches (45-60 cm)
- Hardiness Zones: 5, 6, 7, 8
- Flower Color: Yellow/Gold Shades
- Foliage Color: Green shades (with burgundy flecking)
- 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
- CPBRAF: Canadian Plant Breeders' Rights Applied For
While 'Woodland Elf' is a cultivated variety, the genus Epimedium is primarily native to shaded woodland areas and mountainous regions of East Asia (especially China, Korea, and Japan) and parts of Europe. This native environment explains their preference for shade, their ability to thrive in rocky or sloped conditions, and their notable drought tolerance once established.
Landscaping Design Tips
Epimedium 'Woodland Elf' is an exceptional choice for adding delicate beauty and enduring resilience to challenging shaded areas of the garden.
- Dry Shade Solution: This plant is one of the top performers for dry shade conditions, making it an invaluable asset for planting under large, established trees or in other areas where moisture is scarce.
- Woodland Garden Enhancement: 'Woodland Elf' integrates seamlessly into woodland garden designs, creating a magical, naturalistic feel when planted beneath the canopy of deciduous trees or alongside ferns and other shade lovers.
- Evergreen Ground Cover: Utilize its spreading habit and semi-evergreen foliage to form a beautiful and effective ground cover. It is particularly useful on slopes for erosion control or in areas where a low-maintenance, critter-resistant groundcover is desired.
- Shaded Border Edge: Its attractive foliage and charming flowers make it an excellent choice for edging shaded borders, providing a soft transition between paths and garden beds.
- Asian Garden Aesthetics: The refined elegance of Epimedium makes it well-suited for Asian-inspired garden styles, contributing to a serene and contemplative atmosphere.
- Eclectic Gardens: Incorporate 'Woodland Elf' into eclectic designs to add unique texture, subtle color, and a touch of the unexpected in shaded pockets.
- Specimen Accent: Though often used in masses, a well-developed clump of 'Woodland Elf' can serve as a captivating specimen plant in a favored shaded spot, allowing its intricate blooms and attractive foliage to be admired up close.
- Mass Planting: For a truly enchanting effect, plant 'Woodland Elf' in large drifts. The collective display of its long-stemmed, delicate yellow flowers and burgundy-flecked foliage will create a memorable spring scene.
Hardiness
Epimedium 'Woodland Elf' is hardy in USDA Hardiness Zones 5 through 8. This indicates its robust ability to withstand a range of winter temperatures, performing reliably across various temperate climates.
Planting and Cultivation
Location: Choose a shaded location, from part shade (receiving 4-6 hours of direct sun, preferably morning sun) to full shade (less than 4 hours of direct sun). 'Woodland Elf' excels in areas protected from intense afternoon sun. Its remarkable tolerance for dry shade makes it an ideal plant for challenging spots, including under the canopy of large, thirsty trees.
Soil: This barrenwort thrives in rich, loose, woodland-like soils that are evenly moist but also well-drained. While it adapts to a wide range of soil conditions, from average to fertile quality, and tolerates acidic to neutral pH, incorporating ample organic matter (such as compost, leaf mold, or peat moss) at planting time will significantly improve drainage, moisture retention, and overall plant vigor. Avoid heavy, waterlogged clay soils.
Planting:
- Dig a planting hole that is as deep as the root ball and at least twice as wide.
- Gently remove the plant from its container, carefully loosening any circling or matted roots.
- Place 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 around the roots.
Watering: While establishing, provide consistent moisture to help the plant settle in. Once established, 'Woodland Elf' is highly drought tolerant and will 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 or growth appears sluggish, a light application of a balanced, slow-release granular fertilizer in early spring, as new growth begins, can provide a beneficial boost.
Maintenance:
- Mulching: Applying a layer of organic mulch around the base of the plants will help conserve soil moisture, regulate soil temperature, and effectively suppress weeds, which is particularly beneficial for this slow-growing perennial.
- Foliage Clean-up: Since 'Woodland Elf' is semi-evergreen, its foliage persists through winter. In spring, before new growth fully emerges, any dead or tattered old foliage can be easily cleaned up. If you prefer a completely fresh look and potentially increased flower visibility, you can trim off all the old foliage in late winter or very early spring.
- Pests and Diseases: Epimedium is remarkably resistant to most common garden pests and diseases, making it a low-maintenance and reliable choice for the shade garden.
Propagation:
- Division: The most effective method for propagating 'Woodland Elf' 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 to encourage new root development.
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!
