Corydalis chaerophylla

About

Corydalis chaerophylla is a species of Corydalis in the poppy family (Papaveraceae) that flowers in the UK from April to June. It sits within a genus of roughly 540 herbaceous annual and perennial species distributed across the temperate Northern Hemisphere and high mountains of tropical eastern Africa. Members of the genus are botanically unusual among dicots in having only a single cotyledon. Some Corydalis species are used as food plants by the larvae of particular butterflies and several contain alkaloids, so check supplier notes when sourcing plants.

About the genus

Corydalis is a genus of about 540 species of annual and perennial herbaceous plants in the family Papaveraceae, native to the temperate Northern Hemisphere and the high mountains of tropical eastern Africa. They are most diverse in China and the Himalayas, with at least 357 species in China. Corydalis species are the only dicots having only a single cotyledon.

Wikipedia contributors, "Corydalis", CC BY-SA 4.0 — Corydalis

In the garden

Corydalis chaerophylla belongs to the genus Corydalis (family Papaveraceae), a large group of around 540 herbaceous annual and perennial species. The genus is most diverse in China and the Himalayas and is native to the temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere as well as some high mountain areas in tropical eastern Africa. A botanical curiosity across the genus is that Corydalis species are among the few dicots with a single cotyledon. In the UK this species flowers from April to June, placing it among spring-flowering plants that bridge the woodland and herbaceous borders. Some Corydalis species provide food for the larvae of certain Lepidoptera, while others contain alkaloids such as bulbocapnine and canadine; a small number of species can be poisonous to livestock, so follow plant-label and supplier guidance. When planning with Corydalis chaerophylla, treat it as part of the spring-flowering cohort: coordinate its flowering window with bulbs and early perennials so its bloom period is visible. Confirm the plant’s cultural notes from the nursery or seed list before planting, since growth form and winter behaviour vary across the genus and determine long-term siting and handling.

More in the Corydalis genus

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