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

Flower profile

Yellow corydalis

Corydalis flavula

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
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 #85 among the 110 flowers on our Kentucky list. iNaturalist

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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.

More Kentucky flowers

Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis)

Bloodroot

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Dutchman's breeches (Dicentra cucullaria)

Dutchman's breeches

Dicentra cucullaria

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🌼 Blooms in KY: March–April
Celandine poppy (Chelidonium diphyllum)

Celandine poppy

Chelidonium diphyllum

🌼 Blooms in KY: March–April

Sources