Ceratocapnos spp.

climbing corydalis

Western Europe and the Mediterranean

SunPart Shade – Full Shade

Overview

Ceratocapnos spp. is a small genus of three annual species in the poppy family, Papaveraceae, placed in the fumitory subfamily. The most widespread, C. claviculata, called climbing corydalis, is a slender, scrambling annual of western Europe that climbs by branched tendrils formed at the tips of its divided leaves. Stems are thin, brittle, and much-branched, reaching 1 to 6 feet (30 to 180 cm) as they clamber over other vegetation. The grey-green leaves are finely divided into small leaflets. Clusters of small tubular flowers, about 0.2 to 0.3 inch (5 to 8 mm) long, are creamy white to pale yellow and appear in short racemes opposite the leaves. Each flower has the two-lipped, spurred shape typical of the fumitories. Flowers give way to small pods that split to release shiny black seeds, often dispersed by ants. C. heterocarpa and C. turbinata are Mediterranean species producing two seed forms. Being annuals, plants complete their life cycle in a single season and reappear from self-sown seed, favouring shaded, sandy, or rocky ground and the edges of woodland.

Native Range

Ceratocapnos spp. is native to western and southwestern Europe and the Mediterranean region. C. claviculata ranges from the British Isles and Iberia across to central Europe, while C. heterocarpa and C. turbinata occur around the Mediterranean basin.

Suggested Uses

Grown in woodland gardens, shaded native plantings, and informal areas where it can scramble through shrubs and over banks. It self-sows to form drifts at woodland edges. The small flowers draw bees and other small insects.

How to Identify

A slender annual climber with thin, brittle, much-branched stems that scramble by branched tendrils at the leaf tips. Leaves are grey-green and finely divided. Small creamy white to pale yellow two-lipped, spurred flowers about 0.25 inch (6 mm) long cluster in short racemes opposite the leaves.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height1' - 6'

Width/Spread1' - 2'

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~12 weeks

Summer

Flowering runs from early summer to early autumn, roughly June to September, with successive small racemes opening as the stems lengthen. The spurred flowers are followed by short pods. In mild areas a long season of bloom continues where moisture persists.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

creamy white to pale yellow

Foliage Description

grey-green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunPartial Shade SunFull Shade

Requires 2-5 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range5.0 - 6.5(Acidic)

357912

Soil Types

sand loam rocky peat

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Medium

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

As a woodland-edge annual, Ceratocapnos spp. grows in part shade to dappled light in moist, free-draining sandy or rocky soil that is mildly acidic to neutral, around pH 5.0 to 6.5. It needs support from surrounding plants or twiggy growth to climb, since the brittle stems cannot stand alone. Seed is sown in autumn or early spring where plants are to grow, as the brittle taproot makes transplanting difficult. Even moisture sustains growth, while hot, dry, exposed sites cut the season short. Once established in a suitable spot, it self-seeds and returns year to year. It has no significant pest problems.

Pruning

No pruning is needed for this annual. Spent stems can be cleared at the end of the season once seed has set and dropped. Removing plants before seed ripens limits self-sowing where spread is not wanted.