Corydalis pumila

Corydalis pumila, also known as the dwarf corydalis, is a modest botanical species, little known to gardeners. It thrives in the crevices of limestone rocks, mainly in deciduous forests. It is a small, simple, and hardy perennial and bulbous plant. It bears small tubular spurred flowers in varying colours, from white to lilac and purplish-pink, on pale green foliage reminiscent of that of alfalfa. Plant the bulbs in a sunny rockery, among tulips or botanical crocuses, for example.

Corydalis pumila is a small bulbous plant native to Europe. This wild species is present in Albania, Austria, Corsica, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Norway, Poland, Romania, Sardinia, Sweden, and Yugoslavia. It belongs to the Papaveraceae family, just like poppies. This plant has a good level of hardiness in rocky soil. It develops its foliage in spring. Its light green leaves are divided into 3 narrow, cut-out and ovate segments. They measure about 4cm (2in) long. The plant reaches a height of about 15cm (6in) and a width of 30cm (12in) at maturity. Flowering occurs in spring, from March to May depending on the climate. It takes the form of small upright clusters composed of 3 to 6 tube-shaped flowers, 1 to 2cm (1in) long, in varying colours. They are terminated by 2 lips open on an almost white throat and equipped with a slender, downward-curved spur. The flowering is followed by the formation of elongated capsule-shaped fruits called siliques. Corydalis pumila is hermaphroditic and entomogamous (its pollination is done by insects). The foliage disappears in summer.

The dwarf corydalis is primarily a plant for alpine or mountain rockeries. It fears poorly drained or acidic soils. It can be planted with other alpine perennials, such as pasque flowers, cat's ears, Arabis caucasica, swallowwort gentian, alpine erineus, or even edelweiss. You can also plant this corydalis above semi-shaded walls.