Re: ground ivy
- To: perennials@mallorn.com
- Subject: Re: ground ivy
- From: D* S*
- Date: Sat, 29 Jul 2000 11:06:44 -0400
On Mon, 24 Jul 2000 23:53:00 EDT Blee811@aol.com writes:
> ===>Dean, the rampant species corydalis (have never bothered to look
> up its
> name) was never out of control here. Until this year where it
> swamped one of
> my daffodil beds. Fortunately the soil is very enhanced there and
> it pulled
> easily. First time in 10 years it took over like that. Wish 'Blue
> Panda' or
> 'China Blue' would do that. Nobody in this area (Cincinnati) can
> keep either
> one going.
>
Bill --
If you mean the common yellow flowered Corydalis that's probably C.
lutea. The fern-leafed fumewort, Corydalis cheilanthifolia, is somewhat
less common but still easily found and every bit as weedy (the ferny
leaves make it easy to identify). Not only do these Corydalis produce
seeds on an astronomical scale, I'm also told that the seeds have a sweet
coating which is attractive to ants, causing the ants to assist in seed
dispersal. Like ground ivy, Corydalis don't really deter anything, they
just take over every available spot. There was someone who, in contrast
with my nightmares, said they'd love to have a garden overwhelmed with
yellow flowers -- that person should have Corydalis!
The saving grace to both these Corydalis species is that they'll grow
almost anywhere and can sometimes be in bloom for 10-11 months each year.
I have C. lutea beneath my front porch where nothing else will grow,
even Lamium. The yellow Corydalis flowers are pretty there in the
darkness; even yellow flowers are better than bare dirt. ;-)
I've never heard anyone describe the blue-flowered Corydalis as anything
but a challenge, probably why they still command high prices. Been
there, killed that. I'll bet these thrive somewhere where there aren't
hot, dry summers, such as the Pacific Northwest or England.
Dean Sliger
Warren, Michigan, USA
Zone 6B
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