This cluster of Corydalis solida has lost it label, but perhap is is a mixture of “George Baker’ seedlings. Still, nice as ever. It’s is amazing to watch these Corydalis set seed, grow to small giants, and then disapear all in the matter of five weeks or so. Still, they are the crown jewels of our spring garden, and I can’t get enough of them.
Look for ant-sown seedlings eavery spring, and be certain not to cover with mulch. Can you see the Corydalis seedling here? Of course, the large-cotyledons of the jewel-weed will need to be pulled quicly before it ovrcomes the precious corydalis seedling. If you don’t mulch with wood chips, you coudl be blessed with a crop of your own corydalis solida seedling, and since they are ephemeral just like thier parents, expect for them to dissapear by July, where thier tiny bulb will sit safe underground until next spring. Naturally, this means, keeping the soil weeded, and that you will need to be careful digging during the summer.
Fergus helps dig, and find more corydalis seedlings.
Well, that’s what Irish Terriers do, I guess, at least ours.
Maybe berfus was looking for Margaret, since she is currently in ‘heat’ and locked in the house. This pink Corydalis soliday hybrid is also called ‘Margaret”. bred by Janus Ruksans in Latvia, and available in the late summer in his catalog. It is a very pure pink. THis stem is tiny, only because this come from a set of bulbs that we
‘re forced last winter for the National Rock Garden Society Winter STudy Weekend Plant Show, in NYC. I would normally toss the bulbs, but since these are a little rare and costly, I brought it into the greenhouse all winter, and let it go dormant last spring, where it sat dry in a pot in the alpine house until last autumn, when I found the pots, and thought that I may have lost them all…..truth be told, the bulbs we’re small, since they never recieved the right nutrients, but I planted them carefully in October 2006, and behold, a couple flowers. Next year, they should recover nicely. Same goes for the tiny weak stem of Corydalis solida ‘Purple Splendor’ below.
What a luscious shade of pink/magenta!! These are just lovely and you’re making me think I need some…
You know that Janis Ruksans will be speaking October 6, 2007 at the Berkshire Chapter of NARGS on Corydalis? Look in nargs.org for details. I didn’t get his catalog this year, but he sent it to me online for free. I ordered 5 cordydalis and crocus bulbs from him which came in August and averaged $25.60 per bulb with all the shipping, phytosanitary certificate and bank charges. But if they live and bloom they will be worth it. I have been growing Corydalis solida hybrids since 2002 and find they do better after moist summers, as long as the site has excellent drainage. After a dry summer I lost some, so now I water the spots where the bulbs are underground in a dry spell. Also, if you only plant the good colors, even the seedlings will be good colors, not the sad magenta of the typical Corydalis solida.
Barbara van Achterberg, Easton, COnnecticut