Macleaya

Macleaya, or plume poppy, is a genus of two or three species of flowering plants in the poppy family Papaveraceae, native to Japan (Macleaya cordata) and China (Macleaya microcarpa). 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.[3]

Macleaya
Macleaya microcarpa
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Ranunculales
Family: Papaveraceae
Subfamily: Papaveroideae
Tribe: Chelidonieae
Genus: Macleaya
R.Br.[1][2]

Macleaya is named after the Scottish entomologist Alexander Macleay (1767-1848).[4]

Cultivation

Both of the known species and the hybrid are cultivated as ornamental plants. The individual flowers are insignificant, but the combined effect of multiple stems four to six feet high can give a striking architectural effect. The plants are unsuitable for small gardens because of their invasive tendencies, but can be very effective as features in large gardens. They spread both by underground suckers and by seeding, so can be difficult to get rid of in some situations.

The cultivar M. × kewensis ‘Flamingo’ has gained the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit.[5][6]

Species and hybrids

References
  1. "Macleaya". The Plant List. Retrieved 1 April 2018.
  2. "Macleaya R. Br". Tropicos. Retrieved 1 April 2018.
  3. RHS A-Z encyclopedia of garden plants. United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. 2008. p. 1136. ISBN 1-4053-3296-4.
  4. Coombes, Allen J. (2012). The A to Z of Plant Names. USA: Timber Press. p. 312. ISBN 978-1-60469-196-2.
  5. "RHS Plantfinder - Macleaya × kewensis 'Flamingo'". Retrieved 1 April 2018.
  6. "AGM Plants - Ornamental" (PDF). Royal Horticultural Society. July 2017. p. 62. Retrieved 25 March 2018.


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