Growing Guide
 
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Plume Poppy

Herbaceous Perennial Flower

Also known as Tree Celandine
Macleaya cordata
Papaveraceae Family
Synonym: Bocconia cordata, Bocconia japonica

Tall and striking, Plume Poppy makes a great border background with its unique foliage and spikes of fluffy blooms. Very aggressive and requires considerable effort to keep under control.

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Site Characteristics
Sunlight:
  • full sun
  • part shade
Tends to be more aggressive in shade.

Soil conditions:

  • requires well-drained soil
  • tolerates low fertility
May be too aggressive if planted in rich soil.

Hardiness zones:

  • 4 to 9
Plant Traits

Lifecycle: perennial

Ease-of-care: moderately difficult

Requires effort to keep from taking over perennial beds.

Height: 6 to 8 feet

Spread: 2 to 3 feet

Bloom time:

  • mid-summer
  • late summer

Flower color: white

Foliage color: dark green

Foliage texture: coarse

Heart-shaped leaves are large (8� to 12" wide) and lobed.

Shape: upright

Shape in flower: flower stalks with upright spikes

Fluffy blooms borne along tall, erect stems.

Special Considerations
Special characteristics:
  • deer resistant
  • aggressive - Rapidly forms large clumps. Control spread by dividing every 3 to 4 years and deadheading to prevent self-seeding.
  • non-invasive
  • not native to North America - Native to China and Japan.
Growing Information
How to plant:

Propagate by seed, division or separation - Divide in the spring to propagate and reduce clump size. Self-seeds readily.

Maintenance and care:
Very aggressive. Consider planting in its own bed.

Divide to keep clump size manageable.

Cut back by half in spring for shorter plants and delay flowering.

Deadhead to prolong bloom and prevent self-seeding.

Usually does not require staking.

More growing information: How to Grow Perennials