Pseudofumaria lutea (L.) Borkh.
Yellow corydalis, rock fumewort
Yellow corydalis is native to parts of the Alps in Italy and Switzerland, but widely introduced elsewhere. It is not widely naturalized in North America, but it is popular in gardens.
Plants: Perennial herbs are 12–15″ (30–38 cm) tall.
Leaves: Two- to three-pinnate, divided into leaves with three lobes, light green to blue-green.
Flowers: Racemes of bright yellow, tubular flowers. Each flower is ¾″ (2 cm) long, with four petals. The top and bottom petals are crested; the top one has downward-curved spur. Flowers appear from late spring to fall.
Fruits: Oval flat pots contain dark brown seeds attached to white elaisomes.
Habitats: Temperate climates, in part shade to full shade, in rich, moist soils.
Online References:
Corydalis lutea (L.) DC.
5/14/2012 · Acton Arboretum, Acton, Massachusetts · ≈ 4½ × 4″ (11 × 10 cm) 
5/14/2012 · Acton Arboretum, Acton, Massachusetts · ≈ 4½ × 5″ (11 × 12 cm) 
5/14/2012 · Acton Arboretum, Acton, Massachusetts · ≈ 6 × 7″ (15 × 18 cm) 
5/23/2024 · Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, Boothbay, Maine 
6/11/2025 · Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, Boothbay, Maine · ≈ 4 × 5″ (10 × 13 cm) 
6/11/2025 · Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, Boothbay, Maine · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (18 × 12 cm) 
6/11/2025 · Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, Boothbay, Maine · ≈ 8 × 5″ (20 × 13 cm) 
5/23/2024 · Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, Boothbay, Maine 
| Kingdom | Plantae | Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae (from Stearn's Botanical Latin) |
| Subkingdom | Tracheobionta | Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients |
| Division | Magnoliophyta | Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms |
| Class | Magnoliopsida | Dicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | Includes magnolias, nutmeg, bay laurel, cinnamon, avocado, black pepper, and many others |
| Order | Papaverales | A group that includes buttercups and other poisonous plants |
| Family | Fumariaceae | Fumitory, fumewort, or bleeding-heart family |
| Genus | Pseudofumaria | From Greek pseudo, ”false,“ and the genus Fumaria, since this was once classified as a member of this genus |
| Species | lutea | Yellow, from a source of yellow dye called lutum |
Pseudofumaria lutea description by Thomas H. Kent, not updated.
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