Macleaya spp.

plume poppy

Papaveraceae Eastern Asia (China and Japan)

Attracts Pollinators Deer Resistant Drought Tolerant

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

HardinessZones 3–9

Overview

Macleaya spp. is a genus of two or three species of large, rhizomatous perennials in the poppy family (Papaveraceae), native to eastern Asia in China and Japan. Plants form upright clumps 5 to 8 feet (1.5 to 2.4 m) tall, with stout, gray-green stems and large, deeply lobed leaves that are gray-green above and white-downy beneath, reaching 8 to 12 inches (20 to 30 cm) wide. In mid- to late summer the stems carry airy, branched plumes of many tiny petalless flowers, buff, cream, or pink, followed by small flattened seed capsules. The cut stems and roots exude a yellow-orange sap typical of the poppy family. M. cordata has fuller, creamier plumes, while M. microcarpa bears smaller flowers on more open panicles and spreads more strongly. The genus grows in full sun to part shade in most soils and spreads by running rhizomes, often forming wide colonies that can overrun smaller plants. The sap and foliage contain alkaloids and are poisonous if eaten. The plumes are used fresh and dried in arrangements.

Native Range

Native to eastern Asia, in central and eastern China and Japan, where it grows on hillsides, grassy slopes, and the margins of woodland and scrub.

Suggested Uses

Grown at the back of large borders, in wild and gravel gardens, and as a tall summer screen, where the gray foliage and airy plumes stand above other perennials. It suits spacious settings or contained beds because of its spreading habit. The plumes are cut for fresh and dried arrangements.

How to Identify

Recognized by tall, gray-green stems and large, rounded, deeply lobed leaves that are silvery white-felted on the underside. The flowering plumes are made of many small flowers without petals, each with a tuft of stamens, in buff to pink shades. Broken stems release a yellow-orange latex.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height5' - 8'

Width/Spread2' - 4'

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~4 weeks

Summer

Flowering occurs in mid- to late summer, roughly July to August, when the branched plumes rise above the foliage for several weeks. The tiny flowers lack petals and rely on showy stamens for their effect. Flattened seed capsules follow and ripen by autumn.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

buff, cream, or pink

Foliage Description

gray-green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

Requires 5-10 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range6.0 - 7.5(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

loam sand clay

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Medium

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

Reaches full height in two to three years; spreads steadily by rhizome

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Grows in full sun to part shade in moist, well-drained soil of average fertility, with a pH near 6.0 to 7.5. It tolerates a wide range of conditions but spreads fastest in rich, moist ground, where the running rhizomes can travel several feet a season. Drier soils and some root confinement slow the spread. The plant can overrun smaller neighbors, so it is often given room or contained. The sap and foliage contain alkaloids and are poisonous if eaten, and the latex can irritate skin. Few pests trouble it, and it needs little care once established.

Pruning

Flowering stems can be cut to the ground after bloom or left standing into autumn. Cutting back also removes ripening seed and limits self-sowing. Rhizomes that spread beyond their space can be dug out to keep the clump in bounds.