Fresh Corydalis nobilis seeds to offer

[Jacek]

I just post again. Nobody seems to be interested. Seeds will be ready in a few days. If nobody is interested I will spread seeds in the neghbourhood - along streets or in neighbours' gardens. I have some success already, although seeds need bare soil to germinate (fallen leaves prevent germination).

In case this post is "discovered" some other year - just send a message to me via the forum - I have good seed set every year.

Here is the original post:

I'd like to offer fresh Corydalis nobilis seeds to anyone who wish to have it. It is in full bloom now but as temperatures are reaching +30 C, so it will be ready to shed seeds very soon. I will send it in small plastic bags with some soil added to retain moisture, in envelope, as a letter. I have practiced this with one of the forumists and it worked very well. I already have one order this year.

I do not really expect anything for exchange, so do not hesitate and order. But I am happily collecting genus corydalis and I have in profusion: Pseudofumaria lutea and ochroleuca and Corydalis: solida in pink, red and ordinary purple shades, malkensis, cava (white and purple), cheilanthifolia. All others are either struggling to survive or not producing seeds for whatever reason (like C. bushii, C. flexuosa, C. ellipticarpa) - and are prone to die one summer or winter when the weather is too aggressive. So if you have surplus of anything that I don't have - I will be happy. My garden conditions may be good enough for some easier steppelanders, too.

Just a word of warning. C. nobilis is a big plant, not good for a rock garden. It is good for more abandoned places, in a forest or under shrubs. It will out compete small spring plants except those very early ones with short growing season, like C. solida or Galanthus nivalis. I find it very drought resistant and shade tolerant. It's doing reasonably well in bright spots, too. I do not have experience with it in hot and dry spots. It is probably more decorative in cold/cool climates - my plants do not look as good as those from Scandinavia. It does self seed abundantly and is fast in shedding seeds. It is not a self-cleaning plant like C. solida - it dies slowly at the end of spring. It is fairly difficult to transplant as the perennial underground portion resembles branching carrot. It is long-lived in my garden.

If you want it, just send a message to me, with address.

[Jacek]

The first seeds are ready to be shed, so I start picking them tomorrow.

[Jacek]

I have lots of seeds picked already. I cut all the stem endings immediately when the last withered flowers are blown away. I also check if the seeds are black, but they always are at this stage. This takes about a week as the flower heads do not ripe at the same time and I also have plants in cooler and warmer locations. I have to do collections every day - with the high temeperatures (today + 25 C) the ripening is very fast.

Then I leave the cut heads in a cool cellar in an opened box - to let them ripe and still keep moisture. After a few days all seed pods will open and release seeds. Then I will add some slightly moist soil, pack in tight plastic bag and send to you.

The rest (or majority, as now only two forumists are interested) will go to my friends who have woodland gardens as I do and also to the neighbourhood.

[Jacek]

I have collected all the seeds heads and they will wait a few days to open all the pods and release the seeds.

There are already 4 4umists (forumists) interested in sees. Any more?

In the meantime I decided to transplant a few C. nobilis seedlings - when I can still see their leaves. I want to try this tough plant under my huge evergreen rhododendron. Using seeds for this purpose would not work as the soil under my rhodie is covered with thick layer of leaves and seeds do not germinate. A few pictures from transplanting process:

First I started with the biggest seedling - one that has already flowered this year. To pull up the plant I used a torture tool that I usually use to torture my dandelions:



As you can see, the plant is quite big. Pulling up all the thick, carrot-like root without damage is not easy. When pulling up one has to grasp the root - leaves will be broken off. The top of the root is a few cm below the soil surface. I was only partly successful, the end of the root was torn off:



Last but not least I did the same with smaller seedlings. Here you can see the root is branching - I was able to take it out +/- all. You can also see the leaves are partly eaten - they are a treat for slugs. If you want to serve a dessert to your slugs - plant this plant.





So as you can see - transplanting this corydalis is not an easy task. Will see if it survives my tortures.

[Epimedium 77]

Bonjour, je serais potentiellement preneur de quelques graines de votre Corydalis solida.
Cordialement
Rossignol Nicolas
4, rue césar
77600 Bussy st Georges
France

[Rick R.]

Years ago I was given bare roots of mature Corydalis nobilis.  They were dug just after they bloomed. The top growth on all of them withered in about a week.  i would think this is normal.  About half of them returned the following spring.  The ones that died were in much drier soil, although still shaded.

[Gabriela]

Corydalis nobilis, just like other Corydalis, is best moved when dormant. It forms a deep rhizome, and as Rick mentioned when transplanted in growth it will go dormant fast,
so will not benefit of the season's growth.

I moved mine (again) last year in October - using a long spade and it is fine; not flowering as rich as usual, but considering it was moved 3 times in the last 4 years is not bad at all. Grown with more sun it will perform better than in the shade