Macleaya cordata (Willd.) R. Br.

RHS Plant Profile

plume poppy

RHS

Other common names

tree celandine

Synonyms

Bocconia japonica
Bocconia cordata

Herbaceous Perennial

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Macleaya cordata is a tall, rhizomatous perennial, up to 2.5m tall, with broad rounded 5-7 lobed, grey-green leaves to 20cm, whitish beneath, and tall, to 1m, plumes of pendent, tiny buff-white flowers in summer.

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

1.5-2.5 metres

Max Spread

1-1.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 2–5 years
Max Spread: 1-1.5 metres
Max Height: 1.5-2.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Clay Loam Sand

Moisture: Moist but well–drained
pH: Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade

Aspect: South–facing or East–facing or West–facing
Exposure: Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H6

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Papaveraceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Clump forming
Genus: Macleaya are large herbaceous rhizomatous perennials with handsome palmately lobed leaves and large airy panicles of tiny flowers
Name Status: Correct
Plant Range: China, Japan, Taiwan

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grows best in a deep, moderately fertile soil that is moist but well-drained, but will tolerate most soils. It needs plenty of space and has the potential to become a nuisance on sandy soils. For best foliage, provide shelter from cold winds; like sun but tolerates partial shade

Propagation

Propagate by division in late autumn or spring or separate root rhizomes when dormant in winter and treat as you would root cuttings

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Architectural
Prairie planting
Low Maintenance
Flower borders and beds
Hedging and screens

Pruning

Cut down to the base in late autumn

Pests

May be susceptible to slugs

Diseases

Generally disease-free