Corydalis

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Jul 16, 2004

Corydalis lutea

C. lutea, which some sources say is a synonym for Pseudofumaria lutea, has been in my garden for nearly thirty years. It was my first Corydalis.

For many years, until our recent five year drought, it lived happily under some junipers. Then, suddenly, it disappeared. It took me three tries to re-establish it, this time in the woodland garden where it seems much happier than it did under the junipers.

Native to Switzerland and northern Italy, it has been cultivated for centuries and is widely naturalized throughout much of Europe.

Rated hardy from USDA zones 6-10, it prefers light shade and soil that does not dry out nor become soggy in winter. Winter wet will rot the crowns of most species. I have come to the conclusion that Corydalis do best in bright light; open sky above them or at least very high deciduous dappled shade. Plants that I've put in shadier conditions either do not flower well once the trees fully leaf out or sprawl about, becoming ratty by mid summer.

A perennial becoming about sixteen inches (40cm) tall when really happy, like most Corydalis, C. lutea will seed about. Some consider this a vice and class it as a weedy plant. I disagree. Seedlings are very easy to remove and the plant makes such a grand filler and weaver, knitting together any bed it occupies. You would not want to plant it next to some precious tiny item that would get swamped, but in a bed of larger perennials, it's marvelous. It will not make a weed-smothering groundcover, however...determined weeds will come up through the airy foliage.

I've seen the flowers described as "golden" yellow. I find them more of a clear yellow, myself. Clusters of flowers open all season with the main flush in mid spring.

The fresh green foliage remains upright and in mint condition all season. I've not seen signs of slug nor insect damage. I would not want to be without this plant in my garden.

Corydalis solida

C. solida (fumewort or bird in a bush) is the easiest of the tuberous rooted species, thriving in woodland conditions, blooming before the trees leaf out and going gracefully dormant when it gets hot.

The intermediate group of tuberous Corydalis, mostly from the Mediterranean and western Europe, want drier, sunnier summer conditions while the leonticoides section demands a bone dry summer dormancy.

My C. solida have been with me for about seven years, slowly increasing clump size via seeding and offset tubers.