Corydalis nobilis

[ChrisD]

Does anyone grow Corydalis nobilis? I have tried seed of this species so many times and never managed to germinate any, this is either my incompetence or (hopefully) not having fresh seed. So please could I beg some fresh seed and to have another go at growing this.

Thanks

Chris

[Robert]

Does anyone grow Corydalis nobilis? I have tried seed of this species so many times and never managed to germinate any, this is either my incompetence or (hopefully) not having fresh seed. So please could I beg some fresh seed and to have another go at growing this.

Thanks

Chris

Chris,

I have had the same experience, almost. This year I finally had one seed germinate. I suspect it is important to have fresh seed, at least for this species. Not having it dry out is most likely another good idea. However, like you I am uncertain. Maybe someone with more experience will come forward.

May you have good luck finding fresh seed.

[Pauli]

Chris,

My two plants are flowering now. I will keep my eyes open. As I occasionally weed out a seedling I am sure that the plants set seed....

[Roma]

I sowed seeds of this from Gothenburg Botanic Garden in February/March 2014 and it started germinating in March this year.  I haven't counted the seedlings but there must be at least 6.

[ChrisD]

Thanks Robert, Pauli and Roma.
Interesting Robert seems to have much the same experience as me, but it seems Roma didnt sow fresh seed but has had at least moderate germination. Pauli, I will PM you with my address.

Thanks again
Chris

[Leena]

I think Gothenburg seeds are kept moist so they always germinate better than dry seeds.

Over here C.nobilis is soon starting to flower, I can also try to keep my eye on the seeds when they ripen in a month or so.

[ChrisD]

Thanks Leena, I think I read somewhere else on the forum that corydalis seeds retain their viability better if kept moist,  perhaps mixed with a little moss?

Chris

[Stephen Vella]

Definitely sow fresh seed as I had great germination. I tend to keep them just moist to germinate.
Cheers

[Derry]

I have fresh seed i collected a few weeks ago, for sale i am afraid - http://www.specialplants.net/



Edited to repair typo in url

[Pauli]

I do not think that the picture on their website is Corydalis nobilis - it is a fine Corydalis nevertheless

[Maggi Young]

I see what you mean, Herbert. I thought that Corydalis nobilis had more globe-shaped densely capitate flower heads, over  quite divided  blue-green foliage rather than the very divided green foliage with longer, spires of flowers as shown on the Special Plants site.  An internet search  shows that the two types are represented  in results for the species.  We need someone with time to study the floras !
http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=242314793
http://www.efloras.org/object_page.aspx?object_id=112489&flora_id=2


In the Liden book the plant shown certainly has such capitate flowers - including the one pictured in the garden of Linnaeus' house.

Links to pictures of the two plants......
http://www.gardenmyths.com/favorite-plant-corydalis-nobilis/   Robert Pavlis'  plant portrait showing the expected capitate flowers

http://www.specialplants.net/shop/seeds/corydalis_nobilis/     Special Plants page showing a long flower spike of yellow.green flowers.

[Leena]

Corydalis nobilis which grows here in Finland, is like in the one in the Maggi's link to gardenmyth page, not the same as in special plants page (though that Corydalis is fine looking). Here Corydalis nobilis goes dormant soon after flowering, and there is no sign of it any more above ground.
I'm sorry to say I forgot to collect seeds from it.

[Maggi Young]

I think there is a confusion over the name Corydalis nobilis - back in 2007 in the forum Kristl W. was saying she had seed of the "true species" when Gene M  was saying he'd been sent the wrong species  (sadly the nursery link he cited is no longer on working) and also  wrote that " The true form has flower with a white base, a yellow tip, and a brown mark in the center of the tip. Foliage is blue-green"  The existence of two species under the name  has been mentioned at other times in the forum and there have been photos of the capitate form which ties in with the e-floras description.

 Kristl showed pictures  here : http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=4111.msg111169#msg111169 in a continuing discussion about what the biennial imposter might be - it has been grown by various members from seed both bought from commercial sources and the Seed Exchanges.

 Here : http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=593.msg14200#msg14200   Gene M. shows  the  plant he grew from the supposed C. nobilis seed -  large and with long flowering spikes. Fermi asserted that it was the plant seen often under the C. nobilis name in Australia.   Hard to tell from Gene's closeup whether or not this is the same plant as shown in the Special Plants pictures or not, though it too has the long flower spike and the same greeny-grey mark.

By 2013 Gene had the correct plant! http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=10319.msg275334#msg275334

Magnar showed a super pic here of the capitate form  : 
http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=9274.msg250723#msg250723

as did Luit van Delft, here : http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=1722.msg43997#msg43997

and Göte  , here : http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=4903.msg152691#msg152691

[Derry]

Thanks for all the research.  My plants are clearly not Corydalis nobilis.  they are big and bold and seed around profusely, but very attractive and easy to pull up where you don't want them.  Think they are biennial, but as I always pull them out as they finish flowering, not 100% sure.  Any idea as to name?

[Tristan_He]

Could it be Corydalis aurea? Described as a N American winter annual. Pictures on Google suggest it is quite variable and the red stems and dark markings don't seem typical. There are several related species.

See Tebbitt, Liden & Zetterlund 2008 - Bleeding Hearts, Corydalis and their relatives (Timber Press) - an excellent book.

Tristan