Fume-root Corydalis flavula
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Capnoides flavulum
- Description
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Yellow fumewort is an annual in the poppy family (Papaveraceae) native to the eastern United States and is found in flood plains along open woods and on slopes. also in glades and on outcrops over mafic rocks. It can be found in western NC and the Piedmont up to the edge of the coastal plain. It is a pioneer plant and requires disturbances such as flooding to create its desired habitat. It is threatened in some areas, such as Michigan, due to habitat loss.
It grows 4 to 12 inches tall in an erect to decumbent form with stems that branch from the ground. It prefers high pH humus-rich well-drained soils in partial shade to shade. It will readily reseed.
The tubular yellow flowers appear above the basal leaves in late winter to early spring and are followed by a pod-shaped capsule. After forming seeds, the plant then dies to the ground, often by May.
Use this plant in a native woodland or shady garden.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Corydalis
- Species:
- flavula
- Family:
- Papaveraceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Used medicinally by Native Americans
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Eastern United States
- Distribution:
- AL , AR , CT , DC , FL , GA , IA , IL , IN , KS , KY , LA , MA , MD , MI , MO , MS , NC , NE , NH , NJ , NY , OH , OK , PA , RI , SC , TN , VA , VT , WI , WV Canada: ON
- Wildlife Value:
- Provides nectar for early bees.
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- deer resistant
- Dimensions:
- Height: 0 ft. 4 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 0 ft. 6 in. - 0 ft. 8 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Multi-stemmed
- Prostrate
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Low
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Loam (Silt)
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- Less than 12 inches
- NC Region:
- Mountains
- Piedmont
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Green
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Spring
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- The green capsules are tubular pods with black seeds
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Raceme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Tubular
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- The flowers are yellow and tubular, with the upper petal toothed and turned upward. Flowers are 1/3 to 1/2 inch long and occur in terminal racemes.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Smooth
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Leaf Margin:
- Lobed
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Greenish-gray basilar compound leaves are up to 3 inches long and two inches across, with two leaflets and small lobes. The stem leaves are similar but smaller.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- The flowering stalks are pale green to pale reddish green
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Naturalized Area
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Native Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Small groups
