Bloomipedia
Yellow corydalis (Corydalis flavula)
Photo: Jensyn Scott via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized

Flower profile

Yellow corydalis

Corydalis flavula

Yellow corydalis (Corydalis flavula) is a flowering plant in the Papaveraceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly March–April across the U.S.

Native to Kentucky

Yellow corydalis is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. In Kentucky it's most often seen in bloom in March–April.

27states where USDA records it
715KY sightings*
6,262U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: Kentucky

Quick look

Corydalis flavula is an herbaceous perennial plant native to the eastern United States. Its natural habitat is open woods and slopes.

  • It belongs to the Papaveraceae family. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) with a annual life cycle. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 27 states. USDA PLANTS
  • NatureServe lists it as native to Kentucky. NatureServe
  • In Kentucky, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in March–April. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS lists its flower color as yellow. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS gives its bloom period as mid spring. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists a mature height of about 1.5 ft. USDA PLANTS
  • iNaturalist has 715 research-grade sightings of it in Kentucky, ranking #87 among the 178 flowers on our Kentucky list. iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

In Kentucky, most flowering sightings come in March–April.

Flowering records by month in Kentucky (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (275 records)

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA)
Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
NatureServe global
G5 Secure worldwide. NatureServe
Kentucky
Not listed Not on Kentucky endangered and threatened plant lists (400 KAR 3:040, eff. 2026). NatureServe: S5, secure in Kentucky. 400 KAR 3:040
Rare elsewhere
Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: CT (S1), DE (S1), GA (S2), IA (S1), LA (S2), MI (S2). (S1 critically imperiled, S2 imperiled, SH possibly extirpated, SX presumed extirpated.)

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Can you eat it?

For peopleToxic (slight, per USDA)

USDA PLANTS rates its toxicity as “slight.” (USDA's rating covers people and livestock and doesn't say which parts.) USDA PLANTS

For petsNot well documented

It isn't on the ASPCA plant list, and NC State Extension doesn't flag it for pets.

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records yellow corydalis in 27 states plus Washington, D.C.

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia; District of Columbia.

Kentucky counties with USDA records: Adair, Anderson, Barren, Bath, Bell, Boone, Bourbon, Bracken, Breckinridge, Bullitt, Caldwell, Campbell, Carroll, Carter, Clark, Clinton, Crittenden, Cumberland, Daviess, Estill, Fayette, Fleming, Floyd, Franklin, Fulton, Gallatin, Garrard, Grant, Grayson, Green, Harrison, Hart, Henderson, Henry, Jackson, Jefferson, Jessamine, Kenton, Lee, Letcher, Lewis, Madison, Mason, Mercer, Metcalfe, Monroe, Montgomery, Nelson, Nicholas, Oldham, Owen, Pendleton, Powell, Robertson, Rowan, Scott, Shelby, Simpson, Spencer, Taylor, Trimble, Union, Warren, Whitley, Wolfe, Woodford.

Growing conditions

USDA PLANTS gives Yellow corydalis a medium shade tolerance, low drought tolerance and medium moisture use. It is rated for soil pH 4.8 to 6.8 and winter lows down to -18 °F.

Shade tolerance
Medium
Drought tolerance
Low
Moisture use
Medium
Soil textures it is adapted to
coarse, medium
Soil pH range
4.8 to 6.8
Minimum temperature tolerated
-18 °F
Frost-free days needed (minimum)
160
Annual precipitation range
32 to 55 inches
Minimum root depth
6 inches
Salinity tolerance
None
Fertility requirement
Medium
Growth rate
Rapid
Active growth period
Spring
Fruit or seed
Black · Spring to Spring
Can be propagated by
seed
Commercial availability
No Known Source

From the USDA PLANTS characteristics data for COFL3. USDA ratings are general guidance for the species, not a guarantee for your garden.

Names, range and relatives

Native status by region (USDA PLANTS): Canada: Native; Lower 48 states: Native.

Other scientific names (synonyms in USDA PLANTS): Capnoides flavulum, Fumaria flavula.

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 559 counties across 25 states; the most are in Virginia (74), Kentucky (66), Missouri (64).

Other Corydalis on Bloomipedia (1): Golden corydalis.

More from the Papaveraceae family (16 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Bloodroot, California poppy, Dutchman's breeches, Greater celandine, Pacific bleeding heart, Celandine poppy, Bush poppy, Squirrel corn.

More Kentucky flowers

Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis)

Bloodroot

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Celandine poppy (Chelidonium diphyllum)

Celandine poppy

Chelidonium diphyllum

🌼 Blooms in KY: March–April
Dutchman's breeches (Dicentra cucullaria)

Dutchman's breeches

Dicentra cucullaria

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🌼 Blooms in KY: March–April

Sources