About

Corydalis elata is a robust perennial that forms dense clumps featuring finely divided, semi-evergreen leaves. From spring through summer, it produces fragrant, deep blue flowers, each reaching up to 2.5 cm in length, adorned with purple-tinged spurs and arranged in compact clusters atop upright stems.

About the genus

Corydalis includes annuals, biennials, and perennials that can be either tuberous or rhizomatous. The plants feature leaves that are either ternately or pinnately lobed, and they produce racemes adorned with spurred, tubular flowers.

Growing conditions

Sunlight
Partial shade
Soil type
Chalk, Loam, Sand
Soil pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moisture
Moist but well-drained
Aspect
East-facing, North-facing, West-facing
Exposure
Exposed, Sheltered
UK hardiness
H5

Plant details

Plant type
Herbaceous Perennial
Habit
Clump forming
Foliage
Semi evergreen
Height
0.5-1 metres
Spread
0.1-0.5 metres
Time to full height
2-5 years
Suggested uses
Cottage and informal garden
Native to
W China
Fragrance
Flower

Care notes

Cultivation
Grow in moderately fertile, well-drained, humus-rich soil in partial shade
Pruning
No pruning required
Propagation
Propagate by seed or by division
Pest resistance
Generally pest-free
Disease resistance
Generally disease-free