Macleaya cordata

Description

Macleaya cordata

Plume Poppy, Tree Celandine. (Bocconia cordata) Introduced first in 1795. This handsome species can grow to 6-7ft without need of staking with stems bearing large fig-leaf like leaves in a blue grey shade with silver reverses. The terminal flower spikes are open and airy in the way of many grasses. Grow in a rich deep fertile spot that is both moist but well drained. They grow best in sun, but will take light shade also. Whilst they can spread, spading around the clump in spring will hold this in check. Best planted in the dormant season or Autumn.

There are two often confused species of Plume Poppy, both come from China, but this one is found also in Japan. The main differences between this and its cousin M.microcarpa is that M.cordata is less spreading, and has flowers that are pearly white to buff rather than buff to pink. I remember reading somewhere that one has smooth round stems and the other ridged, but I can’t recall which is which. The stems yield a bright yellow sap that can be used as a dye or a disinfectant for insect bites. The Chinese name derives from the name of a musical instrument, whose sound can be emulated by blowing down the hollow stems, In Japan its name means bamboo-like herb, again a reference to the hollow stems.