Corydalis: planting and care in the open field, description of the 20 best species, characteristics of 8 varieties

After planting corydalis in open ground, due attention should be paid to caring for the plant. Each type of perennial plant differs in terms of flowering, color and shape, height of the bush. Recommendations will help to avoid mistakes during the preparation of planting material and its planting. Care consists in establishing an irrigation regime, in the timely application of top dressing, processing bushes from infections and pests, and some other activities.

Description and features

Corydalis is considered a herbaceous perennial plant. The name is obtained due to the unusual shape of the flowers, which resemble the crest of a bird. The flower is resistant to low temperatures and diseases, does not require special attention and has healing properties.

Corydalis is distinguished by the following features:

• powerful root system goes far inland and has several branches, some varieties have tubers on the roots;
• stem erect, fleshy, 17-36 cm high;
• leaves have a rich green color and 2-3 cuts, reminiscent of fern leaves;
• active bush growth begins in March;
• a cluster of inflorescences forms at the top of the stem;
• each flower has an oblong base that ends with petals curved outwards;
• flowers can be yellow, pink, purple, blue or white;
• flowering continues for three weeks;
• after flowering, the fruit remains in the form of a pod;
• Insects with a long proboscis can pollinate flowers.

Decoctions and infusions based on Corydalis can relieve inflammation, reduce pain, stop bleeding.

Views

There are more than 300 species of Corydalis. In temperate regions, the following plant varieties are most common.

Dense

The stalk of the bush stretches up to 20 cm. The tubers are small, no more than 14 mm in diameter. Two oblong bright green leaves with a double dissection depart from the lower part of the stem. Buds begin to bloom at the end of April. The flowers are bright pink-purple.

Hollow

The plant forms a bush up to 38 cm high. The leaf plate is triangular in shape, the edges are strongly pinnate. Flowers open bright purple.

Marshall

A distinctive feature is the color of the stem up to 24 cm long. It is red-green in color. The height of the bush is not more than 27 cm. The leaves are green with a bluish tinge, divided into three parts. Yellowish inflorescences.

Doubtful

The stem is small, only 13 cm high. The flowers are cornflower blue. Flowering occurs in the second half of April.

Noble

The plant grows up to 78 cm in height. Deep green leaves, dissected. The buds open in the first half of May. The variety is distinguished by beautiful yellow flowers with purple edging.

Yellow

The stem of the plant stretches up to 36 cm. Green leaves with a bluish tint extend from the base of the flower. Flowers bloom early, already in the first half of April. Their color is bright yellow.

Chinese

The plant forms a bush up to 64 cm high. The leaves are bright green in color, with a bluish tint. Pale purple inflorescences.

Mountain

The length of the peduncles does not exceed 22 cm. The tubers are formed up to 3 cm in diameter. The inflorescence in the form of a brush can hold up to 8 flowers of different colors. It begins to bloom at the end of May.

Alpine

The species is distinguished by an upright shoot, the next arrangement of bright green leaves. The leaves are compound, oval in shape with pinnate dissection. The flowers are pale blue.

Narrow-leaved

Plant up to 18 cm high. The flowers are snow-white, medium in size, up to 3 cm in diameter. It begins to bloom in the last days of April.

Intermediate

Upright shoots stretch to a height of up to 72 cm. The leaves are tubular, pale gray in color. Violet inflorescences.

Low

Herbaceous plant is low, the height does not exceed 16 cm. It begins to bloom in the first half of May. In the inflorescence, up to 4 small flowers of pink-purple color are formed.

Large-flowered

The perennial herbaceous species of Corydalis is distinguished by the presence of rhizomes without tubers. The stem is thick, straight, up to 100 cm in height. The leaves are deep green, large. Blooms in May.

Caucasian

The plant blooms early, in mid-April. The stem is low, up to 18 cm. Tubers are formed up to 3 cm in diameter. The flowers have a beautiful purple-pink color.

Gallera

Stem height 19 cm. Root crops are formed with a diameter of up to 12 mm. Abundant flowering occurs in May. Green leaves differ in a bluish tint, the shape is trisyllabic. Inflorescences are snow-white, purple, scarlet or pink.

Dissected leaf

The plant looks like a fern because of the finely dissected leaves. The flowers in the inflorescence in the form of a brush are formed small, light yellow.

Sulfur yellow

The bush is not very tall, up to 38 cm. The flowers bloom in a creamy yellow color. The leaves are deep green, strongly dissected. Flowering begins in May.

Noble

Herbaceous plant stretches up to 62 cm. Light yellow flowers with orange spots. The flower cluster blooms at the end of May.

Twisting

A variety of Corydalis reaches a height of 36 cm. Peduncles by the time of flowering stretch and begin to bend. Distinguished by bright blue fragrant inflorescences that appear in June.

High

The corydalis stem of this species reaches 43 cm. The flowers are bright blue in a brush. It begins to bloom in the last days of May.

Average

The straight stem stretches up to 14 cm in height. The inflorescences of lilac or violet-pink color are irregular in shape, their length is 12 mm.

Popular varieties

All varieties of Corydalis are characterized by beautiful flowering, pleasant smell and compact bush.

Blue Panda

The variety is distinguished by bluish-green leaves and pale blue flowers. Flowering time is at the end of May.

Purple Leaf

Perennial plant with pale blue fragrant flowers. The leaves have an unusual cut shape, are painted in a gray-green color, which smoothly turns into a purple color. Blooms in May.

China Blue

The perennial plant is distinguished by strongly dissected leaves and inflorescences of a pale blue hue.

Balang Mist

The flowers of the plant are pale blue. It starts blooming at the end of May. Deep green leaves with serrated edges.

Blue Heron

Beautiful variety with bright blue flowers. Pinnate leaves are green with a purple tinge. Blooms in May.

Blue Line

Compact perennial with beautiful, fragrant deep blue flowers. The leaves are repeatedly dissected.

Beth Evans

The variety is distinguished by bright pink inflorescences. Leaves are juicy green. The height of the bush does not exceed 28 cm.

GP Baker

Backer Corydalis blooms in May. Flowers bright pink, fragrant. Openwork leaves of oval shape and green color.

How to plant

In order for the flowering to be bright and long, you should choose the right site for planting and prepare planting material.

Seed selection and preparation

Seeds of Corydalis, even in good conditions, quickly lose their germination capacity, so they start sowing within the first five days after harvest.

When growing seeds for seedlings, the following rules should be followed:

• the container is covered with peat and sand;
• seeds are evenly distributed over the entire surface and covered with sand;
• then moisten the soil with a spray gun and cover the container with a film;
• in the first year after planting, only leaves will appear, but strong sprouts should grow by spring.

Before planting tubers, they should be carefully examined. Only dense and juicy specimens are suitable for planting.

Timing

Ready seedlings begin to be transplanted to an open area only at the end of May, when the threat of night frosts is over, and the soil warms up to +15 degrees.

It is permissible to plant tubers from the second half of June to September. At this time, the tubers are at rest.

Select site

For planting Corydalis choose a well-lit area in the garden, which will be protected from through winds. At the same time, water should not stagnate in the soil. The earth should be nutritious, light, with low acidity and good aeration. If the soil is heavy, then coarse-grained sand should first be applied.

Boarding rules

Planting tubers is best done during flowering. If the tubers are large, then they are deepened into the ground by 14 cm with an interval of 12 cm. If the tubers are small, then the embedment depth is reduced to 6 cm.

Care

When growing corydalis on the land, regular watering should be organized, do not forget to weed and loosen the soil, fertilize, protect against diseases and pests.

Irrigation

The period of active growth falls on the first spring months. At this time, the soil is still wet, and additional moisture is not required. As soon as the earth dries out, watering is carried out systematically. It is important to prevent stagnation of moisture in the soil.

After watering, the soil is loosened. The procedure prevents the formation of a dry crust on the soil surface. In addition, due to loosening, air and nutrients are fully supplied to the roots of the plant.

Weeds should not be allowed to grow. They increase the risk of spreading fungal infections and pests. It is best to mulch the soil around the flowers.

Feeding

If Corydalis is planted in nutritious soil, then additional fertilization is not required. To increase soil fertility, organic matter is introduced into the soil before planting Corydalis.

After flowering

After the end of the flowering stage, the leaves and stem of the plant turn yellow, wither and die. To remember the place where Corydalis bushes grew, pegs are set near them.

Wintering

Almost all types of Corydalis tolerate low temperatures in winter. But some varieties require additional shelter. Therefore, they are covered with fallen leaves, sawdust, pine branches, peat.

Transplantation and reproduction

Flower transplantation is best done during the dormant period, but the plant tolerates the procedure well during the flowering period. The bushes are dug up and transferred along with a clod of earth to a new prepared site.

Propagation of Corydalis occurs by seeds, tubers or dividing the bush:

• The division of the rhizome begins in the spring months or in the middle of summer. The bush is dug out of the ground and divided into parts. It is important that each separated part has a bud and a part of the rhizome. The bush is planted at a depth of 8 cm, observing an interval of 12 cm.
• The seed option involves sowing immature flower seeds. Therefore, you need to try to collect the material when the box is still greenish. Otherwise, it will crack and the seeds will spill onto the ground.

Diseases and pests

Corydalis has good immunity. But in case of moisture stagnation in the root zone, the risk of developing fungal diseases increases.

Viruses

Viruses can be recognized by the presence of spots and growths on the leaves. They curl, turn yellow and dry. Bushes affected by the virus should be removed from the site and burned. After that, the earth is shed with a solution of potassium permanganate.

Rust

Such a fungal disease as rust is recognized by brown and brown convex spots on the leaves and stem of the plant. Gradually, the plant turns yellow and fades. Drugs such as Topaz, Baktofit, Atlant help in the fight against the disease.

Moles and mice

Rodents damage plant roots and stems. Various methods are used to control pests: pesticides are used, ultrasonic repellers or traps are installed.

Slugs

Traces of pest movement in the form of mucus remain on the plant. They eat the leaves and cause the flower to wilt. To prevent their appearance, you should get rid of weeds in time and loosen the ground. If slugs appear, they are caught by hand or set traps.

Onion nematode

Adult worms are 1.9 mm long. Their activity leads to the fact that the plant turns yellow and dries out, the tubers crack and become loose. Against parasites, such a drug as "Imeliorant Percalcite" helps well.

Landscape use

Corydalis will be a wonderful decoration for any flower bed and flower garden. The plant becomes a wonderful addition to flower arrangements on alpine hills and rocky gardens.

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