# Climbing Corydalis (*Ceratocapnos claviculata*) Climbing Corydalis is a beautiful plant with delicate, fern-like leaves and pretty flowers. It loves to grow in shady places and can climb up other plants to reach the sunlight. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Forests ![Climbing Corydalis](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Corydalis_claviculata.jpeg&width=800) Photo: Cwmhiraeth, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Corydalis_claviculata.jpeg) ## Appearance The Climbing Corydalis is a delicate vine with slender, scrambling stems. It has airy, fern-like leaves and produces small, tubular flowers that are a pale creamy-yellow or whitish color. Its unique grasping petioles help it cling to other plants. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Ranunculales - **Family:** Papaveraceae - **Genus:** Ceratocapnos ## Interesting facts - It's a fast grower, often appearing quickly in new open spaces like forest clearings! - Its scientific name, \*Ceratocapnos claviculata\*, means 'horn smoke club-shaped'! - This plant is sometimes called 'Fumitory' because its delicate leaves look smoky! - Tiny ants love to carry its seeds away, helping the plant spread far and wide! ## Special abilities - **Grasping Tendrils:** Climbing Corydalis has specialized leaf stalks that curl and grasp, helping it effortlessly climb up other plants and structures to reach sunlight. - **Seed Sling-shot:** Its small seed pods can burst open with a pop, flinging tiny seeds away from the parent plant to find new places to grow. - **Pollinator Beacon:** The pale yellow flowers have subtle nectar guides, patterns that act like landing strips for insects, directing them to sweet nectar. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 50-150 cm - **Flower Size:** 0.5-1 cm - **Bloom Season:** Summer to early autumn - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Honeybee (*Apis mellifera*) — attracted to its nectar-rich flowers. - **Pollinates:** Buff-tailed Bumblebee (*Bombus terrestris*) — visits its flowers for nectar. - **Eaten by:** [Garden Snail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/garden-snail) (*Helix aspersa*) — its delicate leaves are a food source. - **Shelter:** [English Oak](https://www.snappit.app/explore/english-oak) (*Quercus robur*) — often uses tree branches for climbing support. ## Traits - [Climbing/Vine](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/climbing-vine): Climbing or vine plants are characterized by a growth habit that allows them to ascend upwards by twining, tendrils, or adhesive roots. - [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons. - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Shade Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shade-tolerant): Shade tolerant plants are adapted to grow and thrive in areas with low light levels, requiring less direct sunlight. - [Spring Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spring-blooming): Spring blooming plants produce their flowers during the spring season, often signifying the end of winter and the start of new growth. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always look but don't touch plants unless you know they are safe. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Climbing Corydalis? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Climbing Corydalis? 50-150 cm ### How big are the flowers on Climbing Corydalis? 0.5-1 cm ### When does Climbing Corydalis bloom? Summer to early autumn ### Is Climbing Corydalis edible? No ### Is Climbing Corydalis toxic? None ### What is Climbing Corydalis's lifecycle? Perennial ### How is Climbing Corydalis pollinated? Insect ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Climbing Corydalis: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/climbing-corydalis)