If blue flowers are your thing, then Corydalis Blue Line is the perennial for you.

Plant profile for Corydalis Blue Line

In our garden, Corydalis Blue Line is growing in a position in the courtyard which is probably not getting quite enough sunshine.

It has been there for four years and blooms surprisingly well in spite of the shade. To be honest because of its positioning our plant tends to get a bit leggy and requires support.

As you can see, the flowers are a beautiful sky blue and the delicate looking foliage is also attractive.  Delicate foliage or not, this is an extremely hardy plant.

After being in the courtyard for a couple of years, it had grown large enough to divide. I planted a good section of it in a sunny position in the back garden. Corydalis Blue Line failed miserably in full sun. For best results, a semi shade position is a must.

This plant introduced 10 years ago has so much going for it, most Corydalis are Spring flowering. Given the right conditions, Blue Line will produce these honey scented flowers from late April right through till September.

Another perennial plant with spectacular blue flowers worth considering is Meconopsis. This one actually performs better in Scotland than it does south of the border.

Quick glance details

Hardiness

Fully hardy to minus 25c

Height

Mound of foliage about 15 cm with flowers reaching a height of 30 cm and width of about 45 cm

Flowers and foliage

The very attractive green lobed leaves appear in early March. Don’t be fooled by the delicate look of the foliage, it is extremely hardy and will not show signs of dying back until the first frosts of early Winter.

The sky blue flowers carried on dainty dark red stems are numerous from April to May. In good conditions, expect bursts of flowers till September. In perfect conditions, flowering can be almost non-stop.

variety

Because of its long flowering period and hardiness, Blue Line has been described as an innovation for Corydalis.  The variety came about as a result of crossing with Corydalis flexuosa and Corydalis elata.

Position

Semi shade is essential for good results. Grows in neutral soil, alkaline or on the acidic side. Said to be suitable for tubs, but best planted in the border.

Propagation

very easy to lift and divide, best done in early Autumn.

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Revisiting our Aberdeen garden

Our biggest gardening challenge came many years ago, not exactly when I was seventeen. However, a lot younger than I am now.

It was back in 1985, the garden came with a bonus, a house nonetheless, that’s not it in the picture below, in case you were wondering.

It is September 2013, 3 months before we moved out. I decided to make a short movie of our back garden with my compact camera.

My film career never took off, but I am so glad we have this little reminder.