Spine Tingler Epimedium Planted - May 2023

Every gardener wants things in their garden that are unique.  Plants that their neighbors don't have.  Plants that you can't find at the big box store.  Epimedium is a plant that fits those three things.  I posted last week about the Orange Queen Epimedium that we brought home from the Morton Arboretum Plant Sale.  And talked about how I bought another variety.  This post is about that *other* variety:  Spine Tingler Barrenwort.  

At the sale, this spine-y foliage certainly caught my eye.  I knew these were going to find a home in my garden out back:

Back in 2021, I came across Sandy Claws Epimedium at The Growing Place and talked about how I liked it.    This Spine Tingler variety sure looks A LOT like Sandy Claws, doesn't it?

I planted the three plants right behind my existing Epimedium - Amber Queen - on the north side in the understory bed.   In the photo below, you can see the three new Spine Tinglers in back and the Amber Queen in front.   (note...we have some spreading....with four Amber Queens there now...when we planted just three.)

Here, below, is a closer look at the Spine Tinglers:

And, here below, is the plant tag showing they get 8-10" tall and 18-24" wide.  

Here's my 2023 Morton Arboretum Plant Sale Posts:

• A single Orange Queen Epimedium for the understory garden in back. 
• A single Island Breeze Hosta with red legs and bright yellow foliage planted in the understory garden in back.  
• A pair of HGC Merlin Hellebores planted amongst the existing Lenten Roses. 
• Three Spine Tingler Epimedium (Barrenwort) planted by Amber Queens.