Corydalis

Choice species (as seen in our shade garden) collected by NW Plant Wunderkind Riz Reyes on Mt Emei in Sichuan. This species is often confused with Corydalis elata in the trade. This selection is quite vigorous with red highlighted new growth and spires of icy blue flowers. Moist.

This is related to Corydalis temulifolia 'Chocolate Stars' and has a similar, if smaller, above-ground bulbous rhizome and tons of flowers on long, lax stems The flowers go through color phases of white, pink and dusky purple appearing concurrently during a long flowering period of spring through summer. A remarkable plant. Thanks to Magnus Liden for ID help. Our clone of this has not produced seed so these are from division.

A fragrant free-flowering and good perennial blue Corydalis. That blue is displayed in a quantity of such a pure intensity that it can leave one in a state of unintelligible, ecstatic glossolalia. It is best to dress accordingly as you want to be looking fine if that happens. To 12"+ and wider, rich and moist.

This is a rather luscious selection that arose in Peter Korn's Swedish garden and has soft purple full heads of tubular flowers accented by white throats. Hard to say for sure on parentage - I'm only 100% of my mom - but the thought is that Corydalis capitata is heavily in the mix.

This is perhaps the first of the hybrids to be introduced between Corydalis flexuosa and Corydalis elata and remains one of the best. The derivation of the name 'Spinners' can be traced to this being a chance seedling in Kevin Hughes garden who then brought it to work which was the renowned Spinners Nursery in England. Researching this, we discovered the rather more interesting Urban Dictionary definition could also possibly apply given its dainty appearance and enthusiastic performance in the garden. Scented blue flowers aging to purplish from mid spring to early summer in moist shade to part sun down to zone 6. Hopefully plantsman par excellence Ed Bowen who shared this with us doesn't mind that we are doing what nurserymen do - propagate and sell! We had better check with him PDQ. (Until he gets back to us - it is open season on Corydalis!)

Rare little offering from Siberia with very thin creeping rhizomes making a small ferny colony in light shade. One of the last to bloom of the tuberous species, this usually shows its mauve-pink small tubular flowers in May. Loves a woodsy soil which would make a Primrose happy. Very hardy. Don't be dismayed by the lack of roots that should be filling the pot as this is just not what they do. If dormant, you can separate the thin yellowish rhizomes and spread them out slightly pointing them in different directions for a bit speedier cover.

A seedling found in the gardens at Pan Global Plants in England and named by the proprietor Nick Macer. This is a hybrid between two of the blue flowered Chinese species, C. flexuosa and C. elata that combines excellent vigor with blue scented flowers for moist shade to zone 6 at least. This was named by Nick for the conservative members of Parliament or "true blues". Nick is a heckuva plant hunter as well who could probably retire early if he moved to the States and had his own TV gardening show. Not only does he know plants but he has that damned charming accent and is way too good looking. Thanks to Ed Bowen for sharing this selection with us and who rivals Nick in everything but the accent.

From Peter Korn in Sweden to Ed Bowen in Rhode Island to us in Port Townsend - an interesting study in anthro-assisted ornamental plant dispersal. Beautiful blue flowers with white throats opening from amethyst buds. This is much slower to increase than the flexuosa/elata group. Best in cool gardens. We mean temperature not plant palette because if you are shopping here, then interesting gardens is a given.

Sought after and desirable spring ephemeral from the cold forests of northern Japan. This bulbous species - think Corydalis solida for comparison - is one of the best of the blue flowered species in the opinion of the UK's national collection holder of the genus. A single flowering size bulb of this gem but they multiply!

Good and vigorous hybrid between two excellent blue species, Corydalis flexuosa and C. elata. This will put on a show in spring into June with lots of vibrant blue, nicely scented flowers on reddish stems which stand above the foliage which looks somewhat like the result of a tryst between a maidenhair fern and a meadow rue. Perfect in the shade garden where it needs moisture. This will go fairly dormant in the dog days of summer but will start up again in early fall. We saw both parents of this hybrid growing and flowering on the same day in May of 2006 in their native haunts in Sichuan near the Wolong Panda Reserve.

A chance seedling in our gardens with some affinity to "Purple Leaf' and other clones out of England. The similarities are such that we were reluctant to clutter the field with another named Corydalis but it is good enough to share so an "unofficial" descriptive is our solution. Purplish new leaves and scented lavender-blue flowers,

A fine Corydalis collected by Hinkley in Sichuan and there is speculation that it might be a flexuosa x elata hybrid. What we know is that it is an excellent garden plant with loads of light blue flowers which puts on quite the show. Best in light shade or morning sun and moist.

One of the very good blue flowered hybrids combining the best traits of Corydalis flexuosa with those of C. elata. We were in China in 2006 and saw both species in a single day in the Wolong Panda area and these hybrids hold a special appeal to us. In the Poppy family, this requires light to bright shade and moist soil where it will make a nice patch. Z5-8.