bulbous Corydalis

[gote]

I agree some names are romantic. I bought 'Frodo' last fall. But what bout 'Aimable Amie', 'Maiden's Blush', 'Souvenir de la Malmaison'. The difference is of course that good clones of Corydalis solida will yield good offspring so the possibly nameable clones proliferate. Nevertheless, good clones double yearly so it is quite possible to give the good ones names and distribute them.

My postings are really a kind of crusade for Corydalis. Hey there! Get them! Grow them! Treasure them!
However, I think I will end here (for the time being  ) with two more good doers.
The cross between bracteata and solida goes under the name 'Allenii' The cross has happened more than once so there are more than one of them around. they are sterile but strong growers and divide yearly.
Malkensis is a relatively low white species that is easy to recognize. It has flaring lips, curved spur and the stem is usually divided into two flowering shoots. It seems to be self fertile. It also divides frequently.

Some notes about how I grow them:
I grow them in open deciduous woodland conditions in sandy soil with high humus content and low pH. They grow quickly and die down naturally when the tree leaves are fully developed. They should be lifted and divided as soon as they die down at least every second year. The corms must not be allowed to dry out. Small rodents love the corms. I use metal net with 6mm openings to keep them at bay. The sides of the net must be bent down about 5cm otherwise the mice dig under them. The net must be 1 cm below soil level. Otherwise the plants become trapped and entangled. I cut small squares of the net and bend the sides. This forms small cages which later facilitate lifting of the corm(-s). (Very useful also for choice Crocus and/or bulbs that one wants to keep easily separated in larger plantings) One corm planted year #1 will yield 2 corms Year #2, 4 in year #3. then they must be divided otherwise they crowd each others. Seed should be sown immediately and kept in a natural climate. Next spring only one cotyledon (The second seems to be aborted). Spring two there is a small plant and Spring three the first flower. The difficulty with the seed is that they are immature on Monday, ripe on Tuesday and gone on Wednesday. Feel the pods lightly between the fingers. If mature they will open at the slight pressure. If it is necessary to move them when they come up in the wrong place, it is quite possible to move when in growth they will (usually) recover in a couple of days.
Good luck
Göte     

[Staale]

Really stunning Corydalis, everyone! Here we still have 30 cm snow, but in a couple of weeks now the garden will be green again.
Somehow I was under the impression that C. ornata preferres a drier and more sunny location than the typical woodland species. Seeing Götes happy looking ornata plants I understand I have been mistreating mine for some years now. Still possible to correct that though.
C. bracteata does very well here too, and seed about. They are all the same yellow. I notice that yours differ in colour, Göte, as some of the plants shown are a lovely pale yellow.

[Hristo]

Gote, interesting cultural notes, always good to know about other growers appraoches.
Possibly my last leonticoides section corydalis for the year, bought as Corydalis afghanica x griffithii at a joint AGS/SRGC show Poulton-le-Fylde, it certainly seems to fit in the Elegantes series. Not as vigerous as other members of the section but I like the white / ivory colour of the flowers. Lips have yet to open.

[Brian Ellis]

Thanks for all the growing tips Göte, I will get hold of some more to grow and try the cages.

[gote]

C. bracteata does very well here too, and seed about. They are all the same yellow. I notice that yours differ in colour, Göte, as some of the plants shown are a lovely pale yellow.

Janis Ruksans has introduced a form that is much paler I might have got that one or a hybrid. I bought it at the Gothenburg botanic garden several years ago without any other name than bracteata. The darker is from Janis.
I also have snow still but only 10-20 cm and some bare patches.
Göte 

[Gerdk]

The Corydalis starting to flower - the red ones are the earliest.

Gerd

[Maggi Young]

 Lovely strong red, Gerd.      The pink ones are the earliest  here !
 .....in fish box troughs....'Beth Evans' in full flower and 'George Baker' behind.... and behind!
 

George Baker in the garden....



'Craigton Blue ' foliage as it overwinters, just growing a little now....

[hadacekf]

Really stunning Corydalis, Maggi

[Luc Gilgemyn]

Maggi, that fishbox trough filled with Corydalis looks awesome !!

[Maggi Young]

Thank you, kind Sirs!

[Lvandelft]

Stunning pictures of Corydalis all.

Maggi, I saw today a nice pot full with Beth Evans in Lisse, but
comparing to your "fish box" it was just a mini plant.

[gote]

Maggie,
you definitely have more Beth Evans than I have.  I am impressed. Incidently they look exactly the same as mine so I feel more sure of my name.
Gäöte

[ChrisB]

I got a batch of the Penza strain corms from Janis the last two years.  I planted most of them out in the garden but one or two I put into pots to grow just to see what they would do.  They are all doing well, but just one of them, a mauve coloured flower, has scent.  Smells a bit like lilac.  No one has mentiioned scent before.  I've checked the others I have and no scent on them.  Do you think this unusual?

[Maggi Young]

Quite a few corydalis do have a lovely scent .... always worth a sniff to see.... some , like the Penza strain are not all scented but there's always the odd one 
Corydalis elata has a good scent too. Unless they are in a pot, it can be hard to get down there to find out if they are fragrant or not!

[Otto Fauser]

Maggi -wish I could grow C. solida 'Beth Evans' like you- superb!!!!
 our winters are just not cold enough to produce such a stunning display.
The Leonticoides section is better suited to our climate.
    otto.