Corydalis

[McDonough]

Corydalis elata is in bloom now, permeating the air for a number of meters, beguiling the senses with a rich coconut fragrance, and visually with bright blue flowers.  It blooms for many weeks, a late woordland bloomer, typically a July delight, but earlier this year with our super early spring.

[Lori S.]

A coconut scent! Huh, that's amazing!    I have never been able to get any of the blue corydalis to do well here, and I'm astounded to hear that they are scented as well as beautiful.

[ncole]

for me elata is the easiest blue...all the other just melt away.  I would think you should be able to have them Lori as they dislike the humid hot nights here.

[cohan]

The elata is a real stunner, Mark!

I have some happly little seedlings of C ophiocarpa, which I think is a woodland species? (any siting tips?)
A quick look on google images suggests its not among the showiest, but the flowers are nice close-up; I noticed some yellow versions as well as the whitish- don't know which I have, but hoping the latter, as I have plenty of C aurea native on the property and doing very well at spreading to every new planting I make...lol I don't mind as its easily removed where I don't want it, and that means when I have a spot ready for a big colony of it, it will be nearby!
Interestingly, I sowed it (ophiocarpa) in spring this year, when it would have had several weeks of chilly weather, and a few more with cool nights- I was expecting no germination till next year, but it came up en masse weeks ago!

[Gordon]

Absolutely love any of the really blue Corydalis! I've just planted a few seeds of the white Corydalis malkensis, and would really love to add some of the blues to the mix- Corydalis elata, flexuosa, fumariifolia, and particularly Corydalis turtschaninovii are all on my radar to eventually add to the woodland garden. If anyone knows of reliable seed sources, I'd be in your debt.

[copperbeech]

Here is one of my "Wildside Blue" from last June 2012 (it was planted late fall of 2011).

I chose "Wildside" as it was advertised as the (only?) blue Corydalis that would not go dormant but alas it did (unlike my bullet proof "Lutea"). I will relocate it to a shadier spot this spring to see if that helps.

[Hoy]

Well, it looks splendid where it is located

[Tim Ingram]

I wonder what the parents of 'Wildside Blue' are? In UK gardens there have been a lot of hybrids coming up between elata and flexuosa, we've had a couple even in our dry garden, and these are usually evergreen like elata, unless it gets too dry and then they just disappear. This corydalis is really good if you can find it, though not a brilliant blue - superb winter foliage.

(Moderator: adding plant name so that it is searchable: Corydalis quantmeyeriana 'Chocolate Stars')

[Hoy]

Tim, it had probably succumbed to the desiccating easterly winds we have had all winter. But I am on the lookout for it though

[McDonough]

Copperbeach, I hadn't heard of Corydalis 'Wildside Blue', your plant looks fantastic.  From what I have found out about it, it is thought to be a C. elata seedling, but whether its a hybrid or not remains to be seen, the photos I see of it look lust like C. elata. It originates from Wildside Nursery in the UK.  It should be noted that C. elata is variable, with some very dark blue forms in the UK. Also, looking through the ponderous list of species in Flora of China, with a whole bunch in the "Elata Group" and closely related species, there is some question whether plants in cultivation as C. elata might actually be C. omeiana or C. harrysmithii, or even hybrids.

There was a lot of discussion about this on the Scottish Rock garden Club forum here:
http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=4903.msg145287#msg145287

Link for C. 'Wildside Blue'
http://gardencanadensis.ca/fusian/index.php/peren/corydalis/corydalis-wildside-blue/

Tim, I've seen that Corydalis photo before (Corydalis quantmeyeriana 'Chocolate Stars'), so it reminds me that I have considerable lust for it The foliage reminds me of a young Aralia for some reason, very ornamental.

[copperbeech]

Well, it looks splendid where it is located

Thank you. It was fine in May and June but in July and August it shut down in terms of flowering due to the too sunny location and our too hot summer last year. I will relocate it (assuming it shows up this spring ).

[McDonough]

Oh, I should've mentioned, while C. elata flower in summer and "tend" to stay in growth thoughout the summer season, they will retreat to early dormancy if they're too dry; if keep moist and shaded the foliage will remain much longer.

[copperbeech]

Mark, the 'blurb' I had seen regarding "Wildside Blue" (from the nursery I obtained it from) was that it is a hybrid developed by British nursery man Keith Wiley. And yes your link gives good information. Again I chose "Wildside" with the hope that it would not melt away. But now that I think about it maybe I have not been quite fair to this plant. I was thinking that it would bloom as well as "Lutea", which it did not, BUT I think the one in my posted picture did not actually hibernate if that means that the foliage remained visible the whole season.

Is that everyone else's experience with blue corydalis ie less floriferous than lutea?

[AmyO]

Tim, I've seen that Corydalis photo before (Corydalis quantmeyeriana 'Chocolate Stars'), so it reminds me that I have considerable lust for it The foliage reminds me of a young Aralia for some reason, very ornamental.

Mark....This Corydalis has been grown and sold by Sunny Border Nursery in the past. When I worked for Ward's Nursery in Gt. Barrington, MA I was able to get it from SBN.....but that was 6-7 years ago. Not sure if they still offer it.

[McDonough]

Thanks Amy, I'll have to look for it.  If Sunny Border still has it, it is likely to show up at local nurseries, SBN supplies many of the New England area nurseries, I see their tags on plants all the time.