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Yellow Fumewort

Corydalis flavula

Found in rich moist forests, especially alluvial forests, also in glades and on outcrops over mafic rocks (such as greenstone). Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), South Central edition What its natural habitat tells you

17
Modest

Native to Mississippi (estimated). How scores work Is it native here?

Profile 100%

Height
4–12 inches
Spread
6–8 inches
Light
Dappled sunlight, Partial shade
Soil moisture
Usually moist

Space about 1 ft apart from its recorded spread, about 100 per 100 sq ft. Enter your bed size for a count

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At a glance

Life cycle
Annual
Bloom
February to May
Fruiting season
May to June

Not yet recorded · Leaves

Recorded in 12 Mississippi counties.

Natural habitats

Places it grows wild. Not a planting requirement. Each habitat page lists the plants and wildlife also found there.

1 of 3

Moist forests

Forests on moist but not wet ground, such as rich slopes and ravines.

Floodplain and bottomland forests

Forests on low ground beside rivers and streams that flood from time to time.

Glades, barrens and outcrops on mafic or serpentine rock

Open, thin-soil openings, outcrops and cliffs on dark, magnesium- or iron-rich rock such as serpentine, diabase or gabbro.

All habitats

Ecological relationships

Who uses this plant?

What these records mean

0CaterpillarsGenus host records with ranges including MS
2BeesSoutheastern regional records

Southeastern regional records · Corydalis

Individual names are not available yet.

Noori, Seltmann & Orr 2026, A curated and integrated dataset for exploring global bee-plant interactions (GloBI), Zenodo, CC BY 4.0
0Specialist beesPollen specialists
1BirdsRecorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim

Recorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim · Corydalis

  • Turdus migratoriusAmerican Robin
Hurlbert, Olsen, Sawyer & Winner 2021, Avian Diet Database, Scientific Data 8: 260 (CC0)

Direct food only: birds recorded eating this genus across North America. Caterpillars on host plants also feed nesting birds. NC Native Plant Society: butterfly gardening

1AntsRecorded seed interactions
  • Aphaenogaster rudis

Aphaenogaster rudis: Seed dispersal.

No records yet · Beetles · Flies · Adult butterflies / moths · Other wasps · Other insects

Growing and identification

Plant details

Family
Fumariaceae
Soil pH
Acidic
Flower color
Yellow
Growth rate
Rapid
Growth habit
Single crown
Foliage color
White-gray
Fruit begins
May
Fruit ends
June

Safety has not been reviewed for this plant; check toxicity and thorns before planting.

Growing sources and scope
Also known as

Yellow Corydalis; Yellow Fume Wort; Yellow Harlequin

Conservation status

Mississippi rankSNR
Global rankG5
MS statusNot verified
Federal statusNot verified

Conservation source Global and federal source

In your garden

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Sources