Traditionally, the vigorous evergreen creeping species have been widely used in gardens as ground cover. Many of the more recently introduced asiatic species are less vigorous and deserve some care in the garden.

None of the Epimediums are self fertile, and they all seem to pollinate eachother freely. As a consequence there are a great many hybrids being produced, named and introduced. These are all so pretty that it is difficult to object, but there is a danger that we will all be flooded by them.

There is also a danger that we will end up knowing the species only from single vigorous clones produced by division, since seedlings are almost invariably hybrids, unless great care has been taken. This would be a great loss, and a serious failing from the point of view of conservation.