Corydalis solida
bird-in-a-bush
Overview
Corydalis solida is a low, tuberous perennial in the poppy family, growing 4-10 inches (10-25 cm) tall and spreading slowly to about 6-8 inches (15-20 cm) wide. It emerges in early spring from a rounded underground tuber, sending up soft, blue-green leaves divided into many lobed segments. Dense upright clusters of 10-20 tubular flowers, each about 0.6-1 inch (1.5-2.5 cm) long with a backward-pointing spur, open in shades of pink, mauve, purple, and occasionally white or red. After flowering and setting seed by late spring, the whole plant dies back to the tuber and stays dormant through summer and fall, leaving bare ground for much of the year. Corydalis solida spreads by seed and by offset tubers, forming drifts over time in cool, moist woodland soil. The seeds carry an oily appendage that ants collect and disperse. Plants are hardy to about USDA zone 4 and need a cold winter to flower well. They decline in hot, dry summers and in waterlogged winter soil, both of which can rot the tubers.
Native Range
Corydalis solida is native to northern and central Europe and across temperate Asia to Siberia. It grows in deciduous woodland, scrub, and meadow edges on moist, humus-rich soils.Suggested Uses
Grown in woodland gardens, shaded rock gardens, and under deciduous shrubs and trees where it flowers before the canopy leafs out. It naturalizes into spring drifts and pairs with other early bulbs such as snowdrops and winter aconites. Because it disappears by summer, it is combined with later perennials that fill the gap.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height4" - 10"
Width/Spread6" - 8"
Bloom Information
Flowers appear in early to mid spring, usually March through April, for about three to four weeks. Each spike opens its tubular blooms from the base upward over two to three weeks. Early bumblebees and other long-tongued insects visit the spurred flowers for nectar.
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
pink, mauve, purple, sometimes white or redFoliage Description
blue-greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 2-6 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
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Corydalis solida grows in part shade to full shade and prefers cool, moist, humus-rich soil that drains freely, with a pH of 5.5-7.0. It is planted as dormant tubers in late summer or fall, set 2-3 inches (5-8 cm) deep. Growth and flowering happen in the cool of early spring, after which the plant goes dormant and tolerates dry shade through summer. A winter chill triggers strong flowering, so it suits USDA zones 4-8. A mulch of leaf litter keeps the soil cool and feeds the tubers as it breaks down. The tubers rot in soil that stays wet in summer, and they may be eaten by rodents.Pruning
No pruning is needed. The foliage is left to die back naturally so the tuber can store energy for the next season. Self-sown seedlings can be lifted and moved while dormant.Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 1 gallons