A UK National Collection

Epimediums

Distribution

Epimediums are confined to the ‘Old World’, with the vast majority of species coming from China. Japan has the second biggest number, with an odd one or two species coming from countries including: Russia, Kashmir, Korea, Italy, Serbia and Bosnia, Bulgaria, Turkey, Algeria and Iran. With such a wide distribution the habitats in which they naturally occupy vary, but common factors are some degree of shade often at the edge of woodland and a reasonable amount of moisture in the soil. Epimediums are not represented in the Americas but a close relative Vancouveria does inhabit similar situations.