Photo: Bernd Haynold, CC BY 2.5 · source

Bulb or tuber · Papaveraceae

Fumewort

Corydalis solida

In other languages: Vingerhelmbloem (Nederlands) · Corydale solide (Français)

Fumewort, Corydalis solida, is a native spring flower of deciduous woods, hedgebanks and old parks across much of Europe, including Belgium. In March and April a small, round tuber sends up finely divided, blue-green leaves and dense spikes of purplish-pink, sometimes white or red, flowers with a long spur. After flowering the plant sets seed and disappears completely until the following spring. Ants spread the seeds, so after a few years a carpet forms under trees and shrubs.

Caution: All parts of the plant, especially the tuber, contain alkaloids and are toxic if swallowed. Keep them away from children and pets.

Updated on 10 October 2026

Light
Partial shade or shade
tolerates little sun
Moisture
Normal
no wet feet
Legal basis
Loam or clay
neutral to chalky
Hardiness
Fully hardy
down to -25 °C
Size
0.2 m
tall, 0.15 m wide
Flowering
March–April

Key facts
Height	0.2 m
Native to Belgium	Yes
Good for bees, butterflies and birds	Yes, for bees
Poisonous to people and pets	Yes, take care with children and pets
Flowering	March–April

Identify

Fumewort: how do you recognise it?

Habit: Small tuberous plant 15–20 cm tall, with a few finely divided leaves.
Leaf: Blue-green, two or three times divided; the lower leaves have finger-like lobes.
Flower: Tubular flowers 2 cm long with a long spur, in dense spikes; purplish pink, white or red.
Flowering: March and April.
Tuber: Solid, round tuber 1–2 cm across, hence solida; in hollowroot the tuber is hollow.

Flowering: March–April · Plants: September–October

In your garden

Why grow it?

An early, native spring flower that feeds bumblebee queens and bees in March–April.
Forms a carpet of purplish-pink flowers under trees and shrubs after a few years.
Fine, blue-green leaves that go well with other spring flowers.
Disappears after flowering, so summer plants can grow over the spot later.
Cultivars such as ‘George Baker’ bring a bright brick red to the spring garden.

Fumewort: where does it grow best?

Part shade to shade in summer, but light in spring, as under deciduous trees.
Humus-rich loam or clay, chalky is fine.
Moist in spring; in summer the soil may be drier.
Under deciduous trees and shrubs, in a hedgerow or a shade border.
Plant 25–50 tubers per m² for a good carpet.

Light: Partial shade and shade
Soil type: Loam or clay
Acidity: Neutral or chalky
Moisture: Normal
Size: 0.2 m tall, 0.15 m wide
Hardiness: Hardy (to -25 °C)

Goes well with

Wood anemone: White flowers at the same time under the trees.
Snowdrop: Flowers just before, in the same places.
Hollowroot: Its relative flowers at the same time and forms a carpet with it.
Hellebore: Larger flowers and leaves in the same shade border.
Ferns: Unfurl their fronds as the fumewort disappears.

Maintenance

Fumewort: when and how to plant it?

Plant in September–October.

Plant the tubers in September–October, as soon as possible after buying: they dry out quickly.
Set them about 8 cm deep, 5–10 cm apart.
Soak dry tubers overnight in water before planting.
Mix leaf mould into the soil.
Plant in loose groups under shrubs and trees.

Care

Water: Not needed; natural rain in spring and autumn is enough.
Feeding: Leave the fallen leaves of the trees: they are the best fertiliser.
Leaves: Let the leaves die back after flowering; they disappear by themselves in May.
Dormancy: Do not dig in that spot in summer: the tubers are resting in the soil.
Self-sowing: Let the seeds ripen; ants spread them around the garden.

Tip: Plant them with wood anemones and snowdrops under a deciduous tree: within a few years you will have a true woodland carpet from March to April.

Fumewort: when to prune it?

When: No pruning is needed.

How:

Leave the faded stems so the plant can set seed.
The leaves die back by themselves in May and need not be removed.

Caution: Leave the spot undisturbed in summer: the tubers lie close to the surface.

Pruning calendar and basic rules

Propagation

Sowing: Let the plant self-sow; you can also sow fresh seed in May straight into the ground or a pot. Seedlings flower after 2–3 years.
Division: Carefully lift large clumps in early spring or after flowering and divide them.

Fumewort: how does it get through the winter?

Hardy to −25 °C.

Very hardy, to −25 °C.
No protection needed.
The tubers need a cold winter to flower.
A layer of fallen leaves protects them and feeds the soil.

Diseases and pests

Does not come up: Tubers dried out before planting. Buy them fresh or in pots and plant at once.
Slugs: May eat young leaves and flowers.
Disappears: Too dry or too much sun in spring. Plant under deciduous trees in moist soil.

Through the year

February: Leaves come up.
March: Start of flowering. Bumblebees.
April: Full flower.
May: Seed ripens; ants spread it. Leaves die back.
September: Plant tubers.
October: Plant tubers. Leave fallen leaves in place.

Use

Edible and useful

Not edible. All parts of hollowroot and fumewort are poisonous, especially the tuber: they contain alkaloids that act on the nervous system. The tuber of a related species is used in Chinese medicine, but do not make your own tea or remedies to swallow from these plants. Keep children away from the tubers when planting, and do not let dogs and cats dig them up or eat them. Grazing animals such as horses, cattle and sheep are at risk too: do not plant them in or next to a field, and do not throw tubers or plant remains into a field, pen or hutch. Call your vet if an animal has eaten some. If any is swallowed, call a poison centre (in Belgium 070 245 245) or your doctor at once.

Good for wildlife

Bees: Nectar and pollen for honeybees and wild bees.

You and this species

Did you know?

The seeds carry a fatty appendage (elaiosome) that attracts ants; they carry them to their nest and so spread the plant.
Bumblebee queens are the main pollinators; some bumblebees bite a hole in the spur to reach the nectar without pollinating.

Garden plants · All species