Corydalis 2016

[Carolyn]

The book on corydalis by Tebbitt, Liden and Zetterlund says that C. Pachycentra grows in NW Yunnan, from 3500 - 5000m, mainly on alpine meadow slopes with grass turf and open soil. This suggests to me a cool position, but not in dense woodland - a more open area.
Having said that, my 2 year old plant, growing in light shade, is no bigger than when I bought it!
Maybe Fred is right and it just needs time.

[Gabriela]

It's very nice that way too.  The corydalis are used to support a return of cold without any damage. 

Yes, but with at least 15 cm of wet snow on top they can break, they are so delicate 
Nice colour variation in your garden Fred. I don't have whites yet... How about the fragrance?

Leena - your blues are wonderful!

[Tristan_He]

The book on corydalis by Tebbitt, Liden and Zetterlund says that C. Pachycentra grows in NW Yunnan, from 3500 - 5000m, mainly on alpine meadow slopes with grass turf and open soil. This suggests to me a cool position, but not in dense woodland - a more open area.
Having said that, my 2 year old plant, growing in light shade, is no bigger than when I bought it!
Maybe Fred is right and it just needs time.

Yes, also the same book has a photo of C. panda growing in scree in full sun, where it looks beautifully compact. Not much on habitat. As for C. pseudobarbisepala it says '... growing on slopes along the roadside and... in rough alpine screes, where it is found with Meconopsis punicea and other alpine gems.'. Now that would be quite a combination! Perhaps both would appreciate a bit more light though I expect a cool location with moisture at the roots would still be needed.

[Cfred72]

I find the scent, though lighter, somewhat reminiscent of a mixture of Hyacinthus and Convolaria

[Leena]

Thank you all for comments. I think I will try them in more sun, the trouble is that my only slope may be too dry, but I'll think of something. Perhaps placing a big rock and planting behind it or something like that.

Corydalis solida is also here hardy, C.malkensis is above ground and we have had  now still -3C at nights, and they are ok.

[Gabriela]

Thank you all for comments. I think I will try them in more sun, the trouble is that my only slope may be too dry, but I'll think of something. Perhaps placing a big rock and planting behind it or something like that.

Corydalis solida is also here hardy, C.malkensis is above ground and we have had  now still -3C at nights, and they are ok.

We went down to -10C, luckily with some snow. Nothing we can do about it….
I looked for C. pachycentra in the Guide to the flowers of Western China (C. Grey-Wilson & P. Cribb) and the habitat is also described as: ” alpine meadows, amongst alpine scrub, forest margins, shrubberies, 3,500-4,500 m”.
There are 3 pictures taken in the wild, and all seem to be in quite sunny positions, two of them in what looks like a very sparse, open alpine scrub (so that would mean full sun).
I hope you find a good location for it!

[Gabriela]

I find the scent, though lighter, somewhat reminiscent of a mixture of Hyacinthus and Convolaria

Yes, quite delightful and some can have even a stronger fragrance. Only that my red ones are not fragrant at all; it may be colour related?

[Gerdk]

just in flower here

Corydalis solida - blue shades (own selection) and the yellow variant of Corydalis marschalliana

Gerd

[Vincent]

Can somebody tell me what this is? It went dormant last summer,  and then started growing in late autumn, having buds around christmas, outside. I put it in the greenhouse then to protect from frost. I've got it as a present without a name, and looking through the list of the nursery it might come from, the only possibility would be C. buschii. Can that be right? I started to get doubts as I read C. buschii is late flowering, whereas mine is already starting to go over (in the greenhouse though). Also the pictures I saw didn't seem to fit. Thank you for any suggestions.

[Gabriela]

I can only confirm for you that it's not C. buschii Vincent, as you suspected, sorry (if you remember from when you transplanted it - buschii doesn't grow from a bulb, but from a fine 'rhizome like').
But it is beautiful - someone else may be able to say which one.

[Leena]

I don't know Vincent's Corydalis, either.

It is too bad Göteborg Botanical garden don't sell seeds by mail any more, they were such good seeds.
Here is Corydalis bracteata, sown 2014, germinating 2015 and looking now like this in their second year. 

[Cfred72]

Hello everyone, last week I went to the festival of the castle of Enghien plants in Belgium. I brought a Corydalis solida 'George Baker' during late flowering. I also bought a Corydalis elata has not yet flowered and Corydalis flexuosa 'Purple Leaf' is in bloom. It is this that I put you in photos.

[Leena]

How nice foliage.

[Gabriela]

Hello everyone, last week I went to the festival of the castle of Enghien plants in Belgium. I brought a Corydalis solida 'George Baker' during late flowering. I also bought a Corydalis elata has not yet flowered and Corydalis flexuosa 'Purple Leaf' is in bloom. It is this that I put you in photos.

You are a lucky man Fred 

[Cfred72]

Yes, Leena, there is a rib and purple color that blends into the foliage. It's really pretty.
Gabriela, I do not know if I'm lucky. By cons I am happy. 
By cons, Corydalis flexuosa was told that is weaker in summer. If lack of water, it collapses. It therefore needs a shady location with the possibility of sun the early morning hours but many of freshness.