About

Corydalis malkensis is a herbaceous perennial with tuberous roots, reaching a height of up to 15 cm. Its foliage consists of pale green, palmately divided leaves that are segmented into narrow parts. The plant produces upright racemes displaying white, tubular flowers measuring approximately 2 cm long, characterized by broad lips.

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
Full sun, Partial shade
Soil type
Chalk, Loam, Sand
Soil pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moisture
Well-drained
Aspect
East-facing, South-facing
Exposure
Exposed, Sheltered
UK hardiness
H5

Plant details

Plant type
Bulbs, Alpine Rockery
Habit
Clump forming
Foliage
Deciduous
Height
0.1-0.5 metres
Spread
0.1-0.5 metres
Time to full height
2-5 years
Suggested uses
Gravel garden, Patio and container plants, Rock garden, City and courtyard gardens, Cottage and informal garden
Native to
Caucasus

Care notes

Cultivation
Grow in sharply drained, moderately fertile soil in sun or partial shade in a rock garden, or grow in pots in an alpine house. Prefers more moisture in winter and partially drying out in summer, plant tubers in autumn, if using pots plunge the pots in damp sand up to the collar of the pot to prevent drying out. Repot annually
Pruning
No pruning required
Propagation
Propagate by allowing tubers to increase each year. Propagate by seed sown as soon as it is ripe in pots in an open frame; germination may be erratic
Pest resistance
May be susceptible to slugs and snails
Disease resistance
Generally disease-free