About
Macleaya kewensis is a rhizomatous herbaceous perennial noted for tall stems topped by airy, petal-less plumes. It originates from East Asia and produces clusters of off-white to cream flowers from July to September. Leaves are palmately lobed and range from olive green to grey, and the stems commonly reach 1.2–1.8 m. The plant spreads both by underground suckers and by seed, so allow space or containment.
About the genus
Macleaya, or plume poppy, is a genus of two or three species of flowering plants in the poppy family Papaveraceae, native to Japan and China. They are large rhizomatous herbaceous perennials with palmately lobed, frilly leaves of olive green or grey colour, 25 cm (10 in) long, and tall stems with airy plumes of petal-less, tubular, off-white or cream flowers.
Wikipedia contributors, "Macleaya", CC BY-SA 4.0 — Macleaya
In the garden
Macleaya kewensis is a rhizomatous perennial in the poppy family that traces its origins to East Asia. The individual florets are small, but the combined effect of multiple stems gives an open, plume-like display; flowering occurs from July to September with off-white to cream blooms. Foliage is palmately lobed and tends toward olive green or grey, while stems typically rise to about 1.2–1.8 m. Give Macleaya kewensis plenty of room to develop and plan for root spread: it propagates by underground suckers and by seed, so it can escape small beds. Locate it where containment is straightforward — a large border, a dedicated prairie-style planting or a substantial container — or install a robust root barrier if you need to restrict its spread. Because the floral display relies on multiple tall stems, sit it towards the back of a border or in a part of the garden where its height will be an asset. Use the tall plumes as a vertical foil for lower-growing perennials and grasses; cut stems can provide airy silhouettes in late summer. If you want the plumes but not unchecked spread, allow for at least 1.2–1.8 m of height and plan a containment strategy for the rhizomes.
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