Plume Poppy
(Macleaya cordata)
Hardy to Zone 3
Bloom Time - Summer
Colors - Creamy white
Foliage - Large silver/blue/gray leaves
Size - 5 - 8 ft. tall
Exposure - Full sun to partial shade
Culture - Easy to grow in average well-drained soil. An aggressive spreader, it is best to plant in sunken pots if you have fertile soil. Plume poppy also self-seeds - the flowers can be deadheaded to help curtail this.
Plume Poppy is certainly a perennial that I would recommend with caution. However, I feel the benefits of this perennial outweigh the disadvantages and justify the occasional work to keep it at bay. Tall and dramatic, it looks great at the back of the border but should not be blocked by plants in front. The striking silver-blue leaves have a scalloped edge and are white on the underside. The leaves alone are reason enough to enjoy the plant but the creamy white plumes that appear from mid-late summer are also quite lovely.
It is easy to grow (most aggressive plants are) and does fine in limited light. Plume Poppy is also very drought tolerant. I have planted ours in a sunken plastic container with the bottom removed to prevent spreading. Despite this, it stills try to roam. The strays are easy to pull up though and should be done early in the season.
I find that it looks good in a mixed border. It also blends well with tropical plants.
Return to Perennials and Annuals
Bloom Time - Summer
Colors - Creamy white
Foliage - Large silver/blue/gray leaves
Size - 5 - 8 ft. tall
Exposure - Full sun to partial shade
Culture - Easy to grow in average well-drained soil. An aggressive spreader, it is best to plant in sunken pots if you have fertile soil. Plume poppy also self-seeds - the flowers can be deadheaded to help curtail this.
Plume Poppy is certainly a perennial that I would recommend with caution. However, I feel the benefits of this perennial outweigh the disadvantages and justify the occasional work to keep it at bay. Tall and dramatic, it looks great at the back of the border but should not be blocked by plants in front. The striking silver-blue leaves have a scalloped edge and are white on the underside. The leaves alone are reason enough to enjoy the plant but the creamy white plumes that appear from mid-late summer are also quite lovely.
It is easy to grow (most aggressive plants are) and does fine in limited light. Plume Poppy is also very drought tolerant. I have planted ours in a sunken plastic container with the bottom removed to prevent spreading. Despite this, it stills try to roam. The strays are easy to pull up though and should be done early in the season.
I find that it looks good in a mixed border. It also blends well with tropical plants.
Return to Perennials and Annuals