Corydalis 2018

[David Nicholson]

My Corydalis had nicely started to come into flower just before the 'Beast from the East' dropped a load of snow on them, and just as they had recovered from that a further dump of snow hit them last weekend whilst we were away in The Homeland. So these are not really at their best.

Corydalis solida 'Beth Evans'

Corydalis cava

Corydalis solida 'Dieter Schacht'

[Jacek]

David, I wouldn't be so critical - they just look nice. Mine are only showing noses.

[Mariette]

Iīd rather say Your Coydalis put up a big show, David!

This isnīt something one would say of Corydalis pumila, which is in flower right now here in Sweden. The flowering lasts only for 2-3 days. Maybe thatīs one of the reasons why the Swedish colloquial name means Good-For-Nothing-Corydalis. It cannot be mistaken due to itīs typical bracts.

[Mariette]

Whereas Corydalis pumila is rare in Sweden, Corydalis cava is one of the two usually found. Here it grows together with hepatica, unfortunately not so lovely blue as Your C. cava.

[Mariette]

The other Corydalis more often found in Sweden is Corydalis intermedia - the lower bracts are splitted, the upper ones not.

[Mariette]

Back home in Germany, the Corydalis will be withered by now. This year was C. solida īBlue Giantīone of my favourites.

[Mariette]

In Germany, more and more pinkish Corydalis malkensis are reported, supposed to be hybrids with C. solida. One I got from a friend, this one popped up in my garden last year.

[Jacek]

I'd like to offer fresh Corydalis nobilis seeds to anyone who wish to have it. It is in full bloom now but as temperatures are reaching +30 C, so it will be ready to shed seeds very soon. I will send it in small plastic bags with some soil added to retain moisture, in envelope, as a letter. I have practiced this with one of the forumists and it worked very well. I already have one order this year.

I do not really expect anything for exchange, so do not hesitate and order. But I am happily collecting genus corydalis and I have in profusion: Pseudofumaria lutea and ochroleuca and Corydalis: solida in pink, red and ordinary purple shades, malkensis, cava (white and purple), cheilanthifolia. All others are either struggling to survive or not producing seeds for whatever reason (like C. bushii, C. flexuosa, C. ellipticarpa) - and are prone to die one summer or winter when the weather is too aggressive. So if you have surplus of anything that I don't have - I will be happy. My garden conditions may be good enough for some easier steppelanders, too.

Just a word of warning. C. nobilis is a big plant, not good for a rock garden. It is good for more abandoned places, in a forest or under shrubs. It will out compete small spring plants except those very early ones with short growing season, like C. solida or Galanthus nivalis. I find it very drought resistant and shade tolerant. It's doing reasonably well in bright spots, too. I do not have experience with it in hot and dry spots. It is probably more decorative in cold/cool climates - my plants do not look as good as those from Scandinavia. It does self seed abundantly and fast in shedding seeds. It is not a self-cleaning plant like C. slide - it dies slowly at the end of spring. It is fairly difficult to transplant as the perennial underground portion resembles branching carrot. It is long-lived in my garden.

If you want it, just send a message to me, with address.

[David Nicholson]

A couple of blue Corydalis from the garden today:-

Corydalis 'Spinners' ------- a bit of a scrambler.




Corydalis 'Wildside Blue'

[Maggi Young]

I see the bees have been chewing their way into the flowers to pinch the nectar!

[David Nicholson]

... and not one of them buzzed me to see if it was OK

[David Nicholson]

Corydalis 'Craigton Blue' 

[Leena]

David, is 'Spinners' earlier for you than other blue corydalis like 'Craigton Blue'?

[David Nicholson]

David, is 'Spinners' earlier for you than other blue corydalis like 'Craigton Blue'?

It's earlier than some Leena but later than others. In my garden 'Blue Heron' is always first and regardless of the bad weather this year was in flower in March. It's taking a break at the moment but I expect it to have another flush of flowers in late-Summer, early-Autumn. 'Blue Dragon is usually next, followed by 'Spinners'. Then 'Wildside Blue' followed by 'Craigton Blue' and elata should be in flower later this week. I also have 'Hale Cat' which I nearly lost but managed to save a small cutting but it never seems to grow.

[Leena]

Thank you David!  I planted 'Spinners' last year and now noticed that it was the first of my blue Corydalis to flower already in May (but May was very hot this year here), it is good to know that is how it should be, and so most likely my 'Spinners' is the right plant. Then there are other blue flexuosa type Corydalis which I have all gotten as 'Craigton Blue', but they flower earlier than the plant I got from Maggi, so I suspect they are something else. it seems here all blue Corydalis are named 'Craigton Blue', it is the most famous name. 
Also here C.elata flowers the latest, usually in July.