Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum

Plant Identification => Plant Identification Questions and Answers => Topic started by: Paddy Tobin on March 15, 2012, 03:12:08 PM

Title: A corydalis of some sort?
Post by: Paddy Tobin on March 15, 2012, 03:12:08 PM
From Mount Usher Gardens, Co. Wicklow, on Monday last, what looks like a large corydalis, bronze tinted foliage, light blue flowers which were very scarce at the time.

Any ideas on identification?

Paddy
Title: Re: A corydalis of some sort?
Post by: Oron Peri on March 15, 2012, 04:11:07 PM
Paddy
I think it is Corydalis quantmeyeriana 'Chocolate Star'
Title: Re: A corydalis of some sort?
Post by: Maggi Young on March 15, 2012, 04:21:24 PM
I think Oron is correct......(he usually is!)

Sadly I found that there is only a brief mention in this forum....
http://www.srgc.org.uk/forum/index.php?topic=1469.msg37034;topicseen#msg37034

We've lost the link to the old forum... unless this brings something up in "wayback" or one of those sites.... ???
http://www.srgc.org.uk/discus/messages/4/35733.html    Hmmmm.... no luck.


Riz Reyes has some info here : http://www.rizreyes.com/Corydalis_temulifolia_Chocolate_Stars.html
which includes Magnus Liden's opinion as to naming ...Corydalis temulifolia 'Chocolate Stars'
Title: Re: A corydalis of some sort?
Post by: Paddy Tobin on March 15, 2012, 05:03:03 PM
Many thanks, Oron and Maggi, that certainly seems to be the one. It looks like a good one for the garden. Many thanks, Paddy
Title: Re: A corydalis of some sort?
Post by: Carlo on March 15, 2012, 10:28:49 PM
...and by the looks of it, it'd be welcome even without the flowers.
Title: Re: A corydalis of some sort?
Post by: ChrisB on March 15, 2012, 10:44:37 PM
Its on my shopping list Carlo....
Title: Re: A corydalis of some sort?
Post by: ChrisB on March 15, 2012, 11:04:30 PM
Just took a look to see who sells this and found the following on a Pacific NW site:

http://www.rizreyes.com/Corydalis_temulifolia_Chocolate_Stars.html (http://www.rizreyes.com/Corydalis_temulifolia_Chocolate_Stars.html)

Corydalis temulifolia 'Chocolate Stars' 
Fumariaceae

ORIGIN: China         

USDA PLANT HARDINESS ZONE: 5-8   

SOIL: Rich-Moist/Well Drained

EXPOSURE: Filtered Light/Shade

FOLIAGE: Deciduous. Emerges in late winter with light
brown with speckled white edges.

FLOWER: Pale lavendar blue. March-April
COMMENTS:
Offered in the trade as Corydalis quantmeyerana, but
verified by Corydalis expert Magnus Liden as the same
species I encountered in Qing Cheng Hou Shan in Sichuan,
China. (See Qing Cheng Hou Shan Part 1). I purchased a
single plant to trial and evaluate and after a summer in my
garden last year, it came up early this spring with it's deep
bronze foliage delicately spotted to give a sparkling effect
that gives it its name. Then comes the profusion of pale
lavender blue flowers in April! This is by far THE
LARGEST of the Chinese Corydalis ever introduced
growing to 2 feet in height and about 3 feet in width! Has not
formed seed so far, which is a very good sign.
Title: Re: A corydalis of some sort?
Post by: mark smyth on March 15, 2012, 11:05:56 PM
It was on display and for sale at Loughborough
Title: Re: A corydalis of some sort?
Post by: TheOnionMan on March 16, 2012, 12:45:48 AM
Corydalis quantmeyeriana 'Chocolate Stars' on NARGS
http://nargs.org/smf/index.php?topic=1009.msg14599#msg14599

Available at Fraser's Thimble Farms nursery:
http://www.thimblefarms.com/corydalis.html

Older SRGC topic from June 2007 by Riz Reyes "Confirmed Corydalis temulifolia"
http://www.srgc.org.uk/forum/index.php?topic=559.0

So, is there consensus that the one named 'Chocolate Stars' is Corydalis temulifolia and not C. quantmeyeriana?  A unique and attractive Corydalis to be sure; gorgeous foliage.
Title: Re: A corydalis of some sort?
Post by: Paddy Tobin on March 16, 2012, 11:52:03 AM
Many thanks for the additional comments and information. It certainly strikes me as an excellent garden plant.

Paddy
Title: Re: A corydalis of some sort?
Post by: Lesley Cox on March 26, 2012, 09:32:29 PM
If your picture is true Paddy, I'd just about forget the flowers and be stunned by the foliage!
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