Corydallis
By Dreeny8
Hertfordshire,
United Kingdom 
I have lost 8 plants this winter. I have/had! a very pretty shrub like plant with yellow tubular flowers from about May to autumn. Most of my gartden is inherited so I had to search and have identified it as a Corydallis.
I,ve searched around for a replacement but there appear to be two different kinds one is about 12" but the other is described as a plant for walls. However, I am still not certain if the two are the same plant ... advice please. Also, perhaps someone could recommend a different colour too. Thanks.
dreeny8
14 Mar, 2011
Answers
There are many different Corydalis, dreeny. Some grow from bulbs and are flowering now. Others have fiberous roots. I think that I know the yellow one that you describe, it grows in the mortar in walls but, sorry, I can't remember the name. However, I don't know of any that flower in late summer; are you quite sure that it is a corydalis? How about looking on the web for something that you fancy?
14 Mar, 2011
Yes, they are the same family. Corydalis lutea, the common yellow one is happy in dry sandy soils and in cracks in paving etc. Corydalis lutea grows in the same sort of habit but likes damp soil - fabulous bright blue flowers. Ochraleuca has white flowers.There are quite a few others too. I'm quite sure I have seen a pic of a white flowered climbing one some time ago but it isn't in my ref. books as far as I can see.
14 Mar, 2011
I wrote a blog on the Corydalis family in January of this year. If you think it might help you, go to my page (click on my dog) then to 'blogs' and January, where you'll find it - called 'And now for something completely different'.
14 Mar, 2011
Hi Spritzhenry et al
I have read your Blog and have to say the Blue one looks gorgeous. I have to wonder whether the plant I am looking for is Corydalis. The flowers are exactly like the ones in your pictures, especially the lemon one. It is now completely dead and I never took pix of it, but since we have been here (3yrs) it has died down in winter, I have waited until all fear of frost has gone, then trim down to the new shoots. I suppose it is about 3ft high but the stems seem to "hug the ground". The wood looks very old and gnarled.
dreeny8
15 Mar, 2011
What a shame, dreeny8. Sadly, we've all lost plants this year (and last!)
15 Mar, 2011
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as far as i am aware corydalis isnt a shrub. they are usually a plant that die back to an underground root and or a tuber.
The Corydalis lutea is the yellow one that flowers late spring through summer. there are other species like flexuosa and solida that flower early/mid spring. These may be blue pink white.
Do you have a photo of the plant so we can help id it better?
14 Mar, 2011