Corydalis flexuosa 'Purple Leaf'
Archive entry 22.03.09
25th April 2006
There are a number of forms of Corydalis flexuosa currently available. They do very well for me in pots, but when I plant them
out they disappear for good. They seem to like moist shade, which
is in short supply. I will go on prospecting for a suitable site, but in the meantime I am happy to grow a few in pots.
7th May 2006
15th April 2007
19th May 2007
26th March 2009
4th June 2016
A decade after I last tried it I saw a plant being sold as 'Blue Dragon'. Breeding of the blue Corydalis has been progressing with the aim
of producing plants that are more reliably perennial. I thought that this might be one of them but it turns out it is just a new name for 'Purple Leaf'
designed to improve its market appeal or obscure its flawed reputation.
Introduced originally by Compton, D'Arcy and Rix as CDR.528a from an expedition to Western Sichuan where it was found growing in damp woodland. It have tried it in my woodland
but it just isn't moist enough, it becomes dormant in summer and never appears again.