Epimedium franchetii 'Gotemba'

We were lucky to get one of these from Norm and Debbie of Arbutus Gardens, as this fine selection almost vanished from the trade. They had received it from Dan Hinkley's Heronswood Nursery, and this is what he (Dan) said in his 2003 catalog: "I purchased this yellow flowering species from Japan in 1997 under the name of E. chlorandrum, and it certainly represents a wild Chinese species. Later identified as E. franchetii, we have given it a clonal name to distinguish it from the other E. franchetii we cultivate. The long and elegant evergreen foliage emerges with coppery tones while the numerous large-spurred yellow flowers are carried on tall stems to 2 ft. This succeeds well in a somewhat droughty full-sun position along our upper drive, though would be equally content in a more shaded site in humus-rich soil." According to Norm, 'Gotemba' is more drought tolerant and the leaves evergreen to colder temps than the species.