Corydalis flexuosa Purple Leaf

The 'Purple Leaf' corydalis is an amazing woodland perennial related to poppies. The plant grows into a slowly spreading tuft with finely cut foliage of a beautiful purple-tinged blue-green colour. During several weeks in spring, it produces numerous flowers of vibrant blue, washed with mauve. You can enjoy these true little gems every year by planting this plant in a shady or semi-shady spot with moist and humus-rich soil.

The Corydalis flexuosa 'Purple Leaf' is a perennial of the Papaveraceae family. It is, therefore, a cousin of poppies, even if this relationship is not necessarily evident at first glance. Native to China, and more specifically to the Sichuan region, this plant thrives in light woods and their edges, grassy slopes, riverbanks, and dripping rocks. It can be found up to an altitude of 2700m (8858ft), which allows it to be cultivated without any problem, even in regions with rather cold climates. The flexuous corydalis forms a fairly dense tuft adorned with delicate cut leaves and spreads slowly thanks to short rhizomes. The stems, smooth and brittle like glass, rise to an average height of about thirty centimetres and bear surprising clusters of tube-shaped flowers in a very rare electric blue among hardy plants between April and May. Moreover, they are nectar-rich and emit a pleasant honey scent when one takes the trouble to get closer.

With 'Purple Leaf', the leaves are refreshing blue-green shaded with purple; the bright blue flowers are washed with mauve. The plant is dense and maintains a more "neat" and less gangly appearance compared to other varieties.

As mentioned earlier, the 'Purple Leaf' corydalis is very hardy but prefers climates that are neither too hot nor too dry. As soon as the first signs of hot weather arrive, the plant enters dormancy, often towards the end of June and completely disappears until autumn, when it produces new leaves. If the winter is not too harsh, these leaves remain evergreen. Place it in a shady or semi-shady bed in a humus-rich and well-drained substrate. Too heavy and clay soil tends to cause the base to rot during the cold season. Protect the shrub by adding dead leaves yearly to create an insulating layer for woodland plants. Propagation is possible in early spring by dividing the plant. Handle with care, as the fleshy buds are as brittle as the stems. The 'Purple Leaf' Corydalis will look sensational with other architectural shade-loving plants, such as 'Spotty Dotty' Podophyllum, Canadian Bloodroot, or 'Amber Queen' Epimedium, as well as with ferns like 'Lady in Red' Athyrium or Adiantum pedatum.