About

Corydalis temulifolia 'Chocolate Stars' is a compact evergreen perennial that reaches a height of up to 40 cm. Its foliage consists of ovate leaflets with scalloped edges, displaying a reddish-brown hue during autumn and winter. As spring arrives, the leaves take on bronze tones before transitioning to an olive green by late spring and into summer. In spring, slender, tubular flowers in a lilac-pink shade emerge on upright stems, rising above the foliage.

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, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moisture
Moist but well-drained
Aspect
South-facing, East-facing, West-facing
Exposure
Exposed, Sheltered
UK hardiness
H5

Plant details

Plant type
Herbaceous Perennial
Habit
Bushy
Foliage
Evergreen
Height
0.1-0.5 metres
Spread
0.1-0.5 metres
Time to full height
2-5 years
Suggested uses
Cottage and informal garden, Rock garden

Care notes

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