POSTED BY KIM — Have you ever planted a perennial that died, so you planted it again, and it died again? So you planted it again?… How many times are you willing to buy the same plant before you realize that no matter *how much* you love it, this plant just isn’t going to make it in your garden?
Some customers refer to this phenomenon as the “Three Strikes You’re Out” rule of gardening. If they really love a plant, they’ll give it three tries before finally wising up — and giving up.
Corydalis is one of those plants that may require multiple tries before you find the spot where it’s happiest. Which is ironic — and frustrating — because it has self-seeded at Sugar Creek Gardens and is growing along the foundation of the gift shop. We can have a dozen pots in the shade house limping along, but walk outside and look under some racks and WOW! the corydalis is so beautiful it’s ridiculous.
Here’s my story: I loved the delicate foliage on this airy little groundcover, and its yellow flower blooms almost non-stop throughout the growing season, so I bought one and put it in just the perfect spot in my garden (MY IDEA of the perfect spot — not the plant’s). And it died. So I tried it again. And it died again — but not before re-seeding a few feet away. The new plant was very happy along the foundation of my house where it’s nice and dry. So I gave up and just let it be, and for a few years it was okay.
Then a few months ago, I lost a dogwood tree that was very near my corydalis. When I had the tree removed, it opened up that space quite a bit and allowed in more indirect sunlight — and my corydalis EXPLODED! So I’m enjoying this happy accident.
Corydalis is around to keep gardeners like me humble. And sometimes frustrated. But I’ll enjoy it more because of that.
I just noticed the bug in there -- ??
