Epimedium x omeiense Stormcloud - Barrenwort

Small. evergreen, understorey shrubs or deciduous perennials, which owe their name to the lightness of their flowers. These very beautiful shade plants can be cultivated in borders or in a large shady rockery, preferably along a path to fully enjoy their great beauty. They can all withstand temperatures as low as  -13°C (8.6°F) without any protection. The highly cold-resistant western species can tolerate difficult conditions, such as living in dense shade under trees, in very dry soil or in moist clay soil.  The Asian species prefer a soil that remains damp to moist in summer, well-drained, rich in humus, without limestone, and can also tolerate dense shade. They all grow relatively slowly, but can live for many years in one place without any special care.

A vigorous stump with evergreen, leathery, and glossy foliage. The heart-shaped leaves, 12 cm (5in) long and 7 cm (3in) wide, barely prickly on the edges and villous on the reverse side, are widely marbled with red at first, then gradually become dark green. The large flowers with long arched spurs and sepals placed like a helmet on the back of the spurs are pale bronze at the base, then purple and tipped with pale yellow at the tip of the spurs.