Corydalis

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Corydalis

The genus is is a large one, containing some familiar weeds and many unknown treasures. We offer selected hardy species, with tubers. These are the best species for garden use, and never become weeds.

Most of our species thrive in a leaf-enriched loam out in the garden. Light shade is best, some will take sun. They grow in acid or lime soils and are seldom troubled by pests.

Corydalis can also be grown in pots, but it is important not to over-dry them in the summer, this causes shrivelling. The semi-desert and steppe species from central Asia are more forgiving in this respect than those used to cooler, moister natural habitats. These arid land species, from drier regions are often happier, in our climate, under cold glass or in the bulb frame.

Expensive species are not particularly difficult, but rather, they are slow to propagate. They do not divide or make offsets every year, others rarely set seed.



Order from Autumn list only.

Corydalis blanda parnassica

Corydalis blanda parnassica

Virtually white in parts this tones to baby pink and darker pink along the length of the spur. The colouring intensifies with age. Flowers are made in long spikes early in March here.

This grows well in open woodland conditions from its large, non splitting tuber and is not difficult to please, left outside, in a humus-rich soil in half shade to dappled sunlight, making a good spike of flowers each year, then quietly vanishing away for 9 months after.

Corydalis blanda parnassicacorblapar £10.00

Corydalis bracteata

Corydalis bracteata

Large, broad mouthed flowers in shades of yellow which vary from the cream (not white) of the Marina strain to bright primrose yellow, all have a deeper coloured nose.

Makes a superb and reliable display of large, brightly coloured flowers on short stems, early in the year (March onwards).

A well-mannered gem and coming from the Altai of Siberia it loves cold gardens but dislikes dryness.

Corydalis bracteatacorbrabra £10.50

Corydalis caucasica

Corydalis caucasica

This reliable and attractive species makes large purple flowers in dense honey-scented spikes. From a short distance away the overall impression is very like an Early Purple Orchid, but it is even earlier.

Flowers from February onwards and lasts well in the cool of early spring. Easy in light shade where it will both flower freely, increase gently underground and seed about a little but no matter how it increases it is never a weed.

Corydalis caucasicacorcaucau £5.00

Corydalis densiflora

Corydalis densiflora

An old clone traceable, in the case of this stock, to Max Leichtlin of Baden-Baden in 1904.

Flowers clear pink, in a dense raceme of 15-20 flowers. The foliage is bi-ternate and slightly blue-tinged, and this makes a splendid foil for the lovely flowers.

Corydalis densifloracordenden £3.50

Corydalis fumariaefolia azurea

Corydalis fumariaefolia azurea

A fabulous blue species from Japan. Short, broad, light green foliage and good-sized, squat flowers in shades varying from azure and electric blues through to blue purple.

We offer unselected seed raised stock. Cool or cold, damp peaty soil sheltered from the wind for best results but fully hardy.

Corydalis fumariaefolia azureacorfumazu £9.50

Corydalis glaucescens Early Beauty

Corydalis glaucescens Early Beauty

Originally selected by Arnis Siesums from material found in Kazakhstan, this is especially early, one of the first in fact, with lax, well-filled, spikes of good-sized soft, opalescent pink flowers from late January onwards.

Happy outside in the garden here.

Corydalis glaucescens Early Beautycorglaear £7.00

Corydalis glaucescens Ihnatchsai

Corydalis glaucescens Ihnatchsai

Originally found in 1998 in the Ihnatchsai valley of Pskem range, Uzbekistan this very distinct strain retains the flower shape of the species but has foliage which is very deeply cut into narrow, linear leaflets and distinctive flowers of a superb, creamy pink colour. Very late flowering.

Sufficiently different that species recognition has been suggested.

Corydalis glaucescens Ihnatchsaicorglaihn £7.50

Corydalis gracilis

A close relative of C. bracteata but with fewer, larger flowers, spaced along a shorter stem. Large, broad mouthed flowers of bright primrose yellow with a deeper coloured nose, from March to April. Makes a superb and reliable display early in the year.

It naturally makes only tiny tubers, although it makes up for the small tuber size, by making offsets on short stolons.

In case the thought occurs to you, this has nothing in common with yellow-flowered weeds such as C. lutea, C. gracilis is a rare, well-mannered gem, and coming from Siberia, it loves cold gardens.

Corydalis graciliscorgragra £10.50

Corydalis incisa

Corydalis incisa

Highly divided blue-green leaves below lax spikes of bright pink, lightly scented flowers in March.

Grows very well here, outside in the garden, unmolested.

The picture shows our stock flowering in spring 2007 and having been seed raised over the years, from plants that we collected over 25 years ago it contained some fascinating new colour surprises as you can see.

Corydalis incisacorincinc £2.50

Corydalis integra

Corydalis integra

A splendid garden plant, the recipient of both a PC and an AM.

This has very decorative, totally glaucous leaves below spikes of palest blush-pink and white flowers each with a tiny dark black-purple nose. In cooler conditions of the garden a lovely bluish tinge develops.

Corydalis integracorintint £8.50

Corydalis ledebouriana

Corydalis ledebouriana

A stunning, very early flowering species from Central Asia. One of our most popular and deservedly so. This has long spikes of white and burgundy coloured flowers over lovely, blue-green foliage.

This is a plant for a well-drained, sunny soil. Easily grown and becoming more and more floriferous with age. It does not like too much summer wetness so is one for a pot, pan, bulb frame or a raised bed. Alternatively it can be lifted and stored dry for a few weeks before replanting.

Corydalis ledebourianacorledled £9.50
flowering sized, cultivated tubers

Corydalis malkensis

Corydalis malkensis

(alexeenkoana of gardens)

A wonderful and floriferous garden species, thriving virtually everywhere and dependably making a superb show every spring, along with gentle increase underground. In addition, it self sows to a limited extent although it is never a weed in the manner of some of the yellow species.

It makes dense spikes crammed with large, creamy-yellow flowers very early in the year over compact glaucous foliage. Soon after flowering the plant vanishes underground for another 9 months.

Corydalis malkensiscormalmal £4.50
These are naturally very small but they are flowering sized.

Corydalis ornata

Corydalis ornata

From the cold wastes of south eastern Russia. It is similar in many ways to C. turtschaninovii but it is tetraploid, earlier to flower and has a different shape.

The flowers are in shades of blue, some with a faint violet tinge, some are darker and more purple whilst some are paler and there are rare and wonderful whites in existence. Loves the cold and thrives in half shade and a peaty well-drained soil.

Corydalis ornatacorornorn £8.00

Corydalis ornata Blue Cloud

Corydalis ornata Blue Cloud

A clonal selection with sky-blue flowers which are produced abundantly in long racemes. A distinct and very conspicuous colour shade.

Corydalis ornata Blue Cloudcorbluclo £15.00

Corydalis ornata Blue Favourite

Corydalis ornata Blue Favourite

A very good, clean and bright blue colour characterises this form selected by Arnis Seisums from seedlings of the species. It has a good general appearance and dense racemes of flowers of a good colour.

The one word that keeps cropping up is ‘good’ and this form is just that, really good.

Corydalis ornata Blue Favouritecorornblu £15.00