(Blue Corydalis, Blue Fumewort, China Blue Fumewort)

Hauntingly beautiful in flower but often balky in cultivation, Corydalis flexuosa is an herbaceous perennial from high altitudes in central Sichuan. The cultivar 'China Blue' has luminous greenish-blue to sky-blue flowers. Growing from a network of scaly rhizomes, it forms spreading clumps of ferny-leaved, calf-high stems topped by conical clusters of 10 to 20 flowers. The two-lipped, long-spurred, fragrant flowers appear through much of spring. The bright green leaves have a red central...

(Blue Fumewort, Golden Panda Fumewort)

Hauntingly beautiful in flower but often balky in cultivation, Corydalis flexuosa is an herbaceous perennial from high altitudes in central Sichuan. A mutation of 'Blue Panda,' 'Golden Panda' has sky-blue flowers and yellow-suffused foliage. Growing from a network of scaly rhizomes, it forms non-running clumps of ferny-leaved, calf-high stems topped by conical clusters of 10 to 20 flowers. The two-lipped, long-spurred, fragrant flowers appear through much of spring. The leaves emerge yellowish...

(Blue Fumewort)

Hauntingly beautiful in flower but often balky in cultivation, Corydalis flexuosa is an herbaceous perennial from high altitudes in central Sichuan. The cultivar 'Purple Leaf' has luminous purple-blue flowers and bronze-tinged leaves. Growing from a network of scaly rhizomes, it forms spreading clumps of ferny-leaved, calf-high stems topped by conical clusters of 10 to 20 flowers. The two-lipped, long-spurred, fragrant flowers appear through much of spring. The leaves have a red central...

(Yellow Fumewort)

Few plants are as long-blooming and carefree as this fleshy-rooted herbaceous perennial from the foothills of the southern Alps. Also known as Pseudofumaria lutea, it has been cultivated since the fifteenth century for its dense conical clusters of small sunny yellow flowers, which appear in abundance from spring to fall atop calf-high mounds of lacy pale green leaves. Each bloom has a gaping mouth and a tubular back-facing spur. The flowers give rise to small pod-like capsules containing...

(Fumewort)

Few plants are as long-blooming as this fleshy-rooted herbaceous perennial from southeastern Europe. Also known as Pseudofumaria alba, it is grown for its dense conical clusters of small creamy white flowers, which appear in abundance from spring to fall atop calf-high mounds of lacy blue-green leaves. Each bloom has a gaping yellow-blotched mouth and a tubular back-facing spur. The flowers give rise to small pod-like capsules containing dull black seeds, which are distributed by ants. Plants...

(Fumewort)

Native from southern Scandinavia to Italy and Greece, this low herbaceous perennial has dainty leaves and modestly attractive pink or purple flowers in spring. The conical or cylindrical clusters of small, two-lipped, long-spurred flowers are borne atop one or two short stems that arise from a rounded underground tuber in early spring. Leafy flower bracts often partially hide the blooms. Ferny, deeply or shallowly lobed compound leaves clothe the lower reaches of the stems. The flowers give rise...

(Colic Weed, Pale Fumewort)

Native to rocky and sandy slopes and clearings over much of Canada and the northern United States, this biennial bears clusters of small bicolored flowers from early summer to fall above rosettes of lacy blue-green leaves. Deployed on erect, calf- to waist-high stems, the spurred, purplish-pink flowers have gaping yellow mouths. The blooms give rise to small pod-like capsules containing round shiny black seeds that are distributed by ants. Plants will self-sow where happy. Plants die at the end of...

(Fumewort)

More easily grown than many other Chinese Corydalis (including C. flexuosa), this hardy herbaceous perennial comes from relatively low altitudes in western Sichuan. Growing from a network of short clumping rhizomes, it forms dense clumps of ferny-leaved, calf-high stems topped by loose conical clusters of 5 to 13 pale bluish-purple to reddish-purple flowers with darker snouts. The two-lipped, long-tailed blooms appear from late spring into summer. In hot climates, plants...

(Berry Exciting Fumewort, Fumewort)

More easily grown than many other Chinese Corydalis (including C. flexuosa), C. shimienensis is a hardy herbaceous perennial from relatively low altitudes in western Sichuan. The cultivar 'Berry Exciting' is a showy-leaved sport of 'Blackberry Wine.' Growing from a network of short clumping rhizomes, its calf-high stems are furnished with elegant ferny foliage that is bright gold in spring and ages to lime-green in summer. From late spring to summer the...

(Blackberry Wine Fumewort, Fumewort)

More easily grown than many other Chinese Corydalis (including C. flexuosa), C. shimienensis is a hardy herbaceous perennial from relatively low altitudes in western Sichuan. The cultivar 'Blackberry Wine' features heat and sun tolerance and a spring to summer bounty of beautiful flowers. Growing from a network of short clumping rhizomes, it forms dense clumps of ferny-leaved, calf-high stems topped by loose conical clusters of 5 to 13 burgundy-purple...