Plant yellow corydalis in moist, woodsy soil. Water it, then forget it—until it flowers, of course. Maintenance? Nil. If you have an unusually dry summer, it will appreciate an occasional drink. Propagate from seeds—but instead of collecting the seeds and sowing them, just look around the parent plant for the bluish green seedlings that appear in spring. Transplant them to garden spots where you want long-lasting color, or give them to a friend whose garden needs a boost.
It’s definitely worth getting down on your knees for a closer look at yellow corydalis. This charming plant has exquisite golden yellow flowers that bear a close resemblance to their kin, the bleeding heart. The blossoms are set off by lacy, fernlike grayish green leaves that add even more visual appeal. Since it has a proclivity for spreading freely with self-sown seedlings, yellow corydalis will happily form a colony as large as you allow. It shows up in paths, rock walls—even in chunks of dirt in your garden cart if you’re not too faithful about emptying it. Call it weedy if you dare; a plant is only a weed if it grows in the wrong place—so just accept this delightful plant wherever it appears. If you insist on keeping it in bounds, look for clusters of bluish green seedlings in spring and hoe them down on a bright sunny morning.
Plant yellow corydalis along a woodland path or anywhere in a woodland garden where it can frolic freely. While it tolerates full sun in cool, moist climates, it does best in some shade. It doesn’t handle desert climates or extreme heat well.
ZONES: 5–9
BLOOM TIME: Spring and summer
LIGHT: Part shade
HEIGHT: 12–15 inches
INTEREST: Grayish green, fernlike foliage with masses of golden yellow flowers from late spring to late summer