Pseudofumaria lutea


Pseudofumaria lutea, the yellow corydalis or rock fumewort, is a short-lived perennial plant in the poppy family Papaveraceae. It is native to the southern foothills of the south-western and central Alps of Italy and Switzerland, but widely introduced elsewhere.

Characteristics

Yellow corydalis grows to tall. Leaves are finely divided and yellow-green to gray-green, often remaining over winter.
Flowers are long, borne in racemes on short, branched, leafy stems from late spring to autumn. They have 4 petals; the top and bottom ones crested, the top one with a short, rounded spur curved downwards, the 2 inner ones connected at the tip.
Its seeds, dark brown with white elaiosomes, are held in oval, flat pods. Plants self-seed abundantly.

Cultivation

Yellow corydalis is hardy to –34 °C. It does best in light shade with good moisture, but will tolerate both full sun and deep shade. It grows wild in cracks in old walls where drainage is excellent.