Corydalis

Corydalis is a genus of graceful, fine-textured perennials and biennials that brings an almost ethereal delicacy to the shade gardens of Martha's Vineyard, with species available for everything from the cool, moist woodland soils of up-island properties to the drier, rockier conditions of garden walls and stone terrace plantings. The yellow-flowering Corydalis lutea self-seeds freely in mortar joints and stone crevices with particular enthusiasm, naturalizing in the walls and pathways of older garden estates in Edgartown and Vineyard Haven. Blue-flowering species like Corydalis flexuosa provide brilliant cool-season color in shaded borders and prefer the consistently moist, humus-rich soils of sheltered interior gardens.

Deer largely avoid all Corydalis species. Estate Care professionals value the genus for its ability to animate difficult garden features like stone walls, steps, and shaded paving with spontaneous naturalistic character.