The plant forms neat mounds of finely cut, delicate-looking light green to blue-green foliage somewhat resembling that of Dutchman's Breeches or Bleeding Hearts. The plant grows up to 24” tall but often is much shorter. It blooms over a long period of time, from late spring through frost. The 1-2 inch flowers have four petals arranged in an irregular tubular shape and a spur in the back. They are borne in racemes with 6-16 flowers on stems rising above the foliage. Slender, dehiscent capsules follow the flowers. They eventually burst to scatter the seed. Yellow corydalis is suitable for the front of the border and can be used to edge borders or walkways. In rock gardens, cottage and woodland gardens it is a good filler and may naturalize. It will grow well in stone walls in cool conditions. C. lutea tends to self-seed prolifically in damp shady conditions and can become somewhat weedy, although it is easily removed where not wanted.