OT - corydalis

7 years ago

I am posting this on here because I get faster and better responses on this forum re ANY question about any kind of plant.

So, I have had very successful corydalis plants, growing at the (shaded) bottom of my front stairs in full shade but bright light. Despite what I read about them dying off and not surviving heat, my oldest ones are over 6 years old, and our summers frequently get into the 90 degrees F. Yellow and white are working great - I have several pots of each and they are going strong. My problem is that I would like to grow some other colors, and I have tried, but no luck.

I had a pink one, and a purple one, and they just disappeared quite promptly 1-2 years ago, a few weeks after planting. To my amazement, after 56 inches of rain in 5 months, today I noticed teenie tiny plants (maybe 2 inches high) where the old ones had been, and each was blooming - one pink and one purple! Also, I have 2 different colors of blue ones on order.

So, my question is, has anyone grown the blue, purple, or pink ones successfully, and what is different about them than the yellow and the white ones? Why can I grow the latter but not the former? Are they more finicky? Any thoughts appreciated.

Jackie

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jacqueline9CA
Original Author

7 years ago

Thanks Cath. I was so amazed when I saw the tiny little purple and pink ones come back. I will keep hoping that they survive. The yellow one is, I think, the original wild one, which no doubt explains why it is the best performer. All of mine just have one or two blooms right now - they are just starting to bloom.

Here are some pics for those of you who are not familiar with this plant - it is related to bleeding hearts, I believe. The white one has lovely greyish foliage.

The last, and most definitely the least - purple just reappeared.

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Comments (6)

cathz6
7 years ago
I have a cream one C. ochroleuc.... (can't remember the exact name) that has been very durable and seeded around. I have tried the blue and purple ones a number of times but they have not persisted. The catalogs report that the blue in particular goes dormant, due to summer heat, and then comes back. Not so in my experience, the coming back that is. The purple I had was supposed to persist but didn't. In short, my experience is much like yours.

Cath
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portlandmysteryrose
7 years ago
Hi, Jackie. I've grown Blue Panda successfully in the PNW, but even here, it can be tricky in the garden. I believe its flowers are bluest in acid soil, and it needs well drained soil that doesn't dry out completely. Regular water when it's dormant is essential. I stumbled on the following article by a U.K. gardener which confirmed my experiences. I'll attach the link. Carol

http://www.nodiggardener.co.uk/2014/04/why-does-my-blue-corydalis-flexuosa-die.html?m=1
jacqueline9CA
Original Author
7 years ago
Thank you for the link! Talks about all of the different colors! I have not read it all yet, but I have printed it and will definitely try the suggestions. Also, of course I can't remember the names of the two different blue ones I ordered, but when they come they will be labelled, and I will know then. All of mine are in pots, and I water them all summer. Now I have the info to try and see what/why they are doing! Thanks again -

Jackie
nippstress - zone 5 Nebraska
7 years ago
Jackie, your zone is totally different from mine, but I've heard multiple places that blue corydalis (like the blue poppy) is happy in the PNW and few other places. I have never been able to keep it alive, but the yellow grows like a well-behaved weed for me. I'm impressed that you got your purple to come back for you, and you obviously have a much better shot at this than I do. I agree that this is a fabulous shade plant, and even if I can only grow the yellow one it will always have a place in my garden.
Cynthia
jacqueline9CA
Original Author
7 years ago
Cynthia - I did not get it to come back. Actually, I had given up on it long ago, and last year I planted a large plant of Impatients in that pot. Of course the impatience (sp?) died this winter, and I took it out. Low and behold, that tiny purple corydalis appeared about a month later. The pink ones were also way way gone, and reappeared on their own.

Jackie

OT - corydalis

jacqueline9CA
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cathz6

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