Corydalis flexuosa (Papaveraceae)
The corydalis genus contains nearly 300 species with varying growing requirements from cool woodlands to sunny alpine conditions. It’s closely related to dicentras, or bleeding heart, and the foliage is reminiscent. They occur in the temperate Northern regions from Japan and China to Europe. Some species, particularly bulbosa and lutea, can be pretty weedy. I know of several yards that fill up with purple bulbosas in the spring. Flexuosa is one of the nicest species we have found so far. It is clumping with a fibrous root system. In late spring and early summer it produces dense, racemes of slender tubed, brilliant gentian blue flowers. Absolutely exquisite! It is considered late summer dormant, but we have found that ours holds a nice mound of delicate, cut foliage after cutting back. May require staking or a small hoop.
Available in 4” pots
The corydalis genus contains nearly 300 species with varying growing requirements from cool woodlands to sunny alpine conditions. It’s closely related to dicentras, or bleeding heart, and the foliage is reminiscent. They occur in the temperate Northern regions from Japan and China to Europe. Some species, particularly bulbosa and lutea, can be pretty weedy. I know of several yards that fill up with purple bulbosas in the spring. Flexuosa is one of the nicest species we have found so far. It is clumping with a fibrous root system. In late spring and early summer it produces dense, racemes of slender tubed, brilliant gentian blue flowers. Absolutely exquisite! It is considered late summer dormant, but we have found that ours holds a nice mound of delicate, cut foliage after cutting back. May require staking or a small hoop.
Available in 4” pots
The corydalis genus contains nearly 300 species with varying growing requirements from cool woodlands to sunny alpine conditions. It’s closely related to dicentras, or bleeding heart, and the foliage is reminiscent. They occur in the temperate Northern regions from Japan and China to Europe. Some species, particularly bulbosa and lutea, can be pretty weedy. I know of several yards that fill up with purple bulbosas in the spring. Flexuosa is one of the nicest species we have found so far. It is clumping with a fibrous root system. In late spring and early summer it produces dense, racemes of slender tubed, brilliant gentian blue flowers. Absolutely exquisite! It is considered late summer dormant, but we have found that ours holds a nice mound of delicate, cut foliage after cutting back. May require staking or a small hoop.
Available in 4” pots
There are a few cultivars of this species, most famously ‘Blue Panda’. I don’t think this is that variety because ours seems less compact. Regardless, it is that almost true blue that the species is known for. There are some other nice cultivars out there. Because of the weedy nature of some in the genus, you have to be careful!