Plume Poppy
Macleaya species (formerly Bocconia species). PAPAVERACEAE.
Planting and Growing Plume Poppy
You’ll find everything you need to know to plant and grow plume poppy in the accompanying table’s tabs:
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- Flowers, foliage, and root structure of plume poppy
- Plant hardiness and growing conditions for plume poppy
- Season of bloom and planting time for plume poppy
- When, how deep, and where to plant plume poppy
- How to plant plume poppy
- Watering, fertilizing, care, and pests or diseases of plume poppy
- Landscape and container uses of plume poppy
- Comments about plume poppy and its features
Growing Plume Poppy
Two species and many hybrids and cultivars of erect, tall, loosely shrublike, stoloniferous, deciduous perennial herbs, to 5 ft. (1.5 m) tall and wide. Shiny, deep green, round, deeply lobed, upturned leaves, to 8 in. (20 cm) long, on stiff leaf stalks radiating from a tall central spike.
Commonly cultivated species include Macleay’s plume poppy, Macleaya microcarpa, and common plume poppy, Macleaya cordata.
Planting and Care Guide
Blooms
Many tiny, cream, pink, tan, white, frothlike flowers, in dense terminal clusters, to 8 in. (20 cm) long, in late spring–summer.
Best Climates
Hardy. Zones 4–9.
Soil Type and Fertility
Moist, well-drained humus. Fertility: Rich–average. 6.0–7.0 pH.
Where and How to Plant
Spring in full to filtered sun, 5 ft. (1.5 m) apart, after soil warms.
Proper Care
Easy. Keep evenly moist. Fertilize monthly. Mulch. Stake. Propagate by division, suckers.
About This Plant
Good choice for accents, backgrounds, fencelines, screens, walls in cottage, natural gardens. Good for tropical effects. Invasive. Pest and disease resistant.
Warning:
Both Macleaya species of plume poppy bear toxic sap that is fatally toxic if eaten. Avoid planting in any area frequented by pets or children.