Yellow corydalis

Yellow corydalis is a familiar 'weed' of gardens, walls and rocky places. It is a garden escapee in the UK, so is not a native plant. Try choosing natives for your garden to prevent species escaping into the wild.

Species information

Statistics

Height: up to 40cm

Conservation status

Introduced, non-native species.

When to see

May to October

About

Yellow corydalis is a pretty flower that originally came from the foothills of the Alps in Southern Europe, but now grows wild in the UK, often as an escapee from gardens. A shade-loving plant, it can be found in rocky places and walls, in particular. It flowers from spring until mid-summer.

How to identify

The leaves of Yellow corydalis are much-divided and yellow-green. They form compact, fern-like mounds. The flowers are like small, yellow trumpets.

Distribution

Found throughout the UK, but rarer in Scotland.

Habitats

Towns and gardens

Did you know?

Yellow corydalis can often be found growing out of cracks in old walls and pavements.

How people can help

Our gardens are a vital resource for wildlife, providing corridors of green space between open countryside, allowing species to move about. In fact, the UK's gardens provide more space for nature than all the National Nature Reserves put together. So why not try planting native plants and trees to entice birds, mammals and invertebrates into your backyard? To find out more about encouraging wildlife into your garden, visit our Wild About Gardens website: a joint initiative with the RHS, there's plenty of facts and tips to get you started.