Garden Tip 209

In my golden years of gardening, I tend to seek out plants that require minimal care. One of my favorites in this low-maintenance yet high-performing category is epimedium, also known as fairy wings. This low-mounding perennial flowers in April and May before its foliage appears. Depending on the variety, stalks of delicate four-pointed flowers in red, pink, white, or yellow seem to emerge overnight.

Heart-shaped leaves follow in shades of green, maroon, and variegated. Fine-textured on slender stalks, this plant is tough as nails. It tolerates dense shade to partial sun, and I have yet to see it adversely affected by any stage of drought. Shallow-rooted, it is easily grown under shrubs and trees, and its clumping growth habit makes it an excellent choice for border planting. And, with all of that, it is ignored by deer and rabbits.