Macleaya microcarpa Kelways Coral Plume

Macleaya microcarpa 'Kelway's Coral Plume', often called plume poppy, is an imposing rhizomatous perennial with a quaint charm that was very popular in the 1900s. Somewhat forgotten since then, it deserves its place in a large garden that allows room for nature. It demonstrates a generous temperament, offering long, soft coral-pink plume-like panicles in summer, which are devilishly romantic. Adorned with its beautiful mane, it gives a taste of autumn to the garden and reveals a soft silver underside beneath its large lobed leaves. Give this robust wild plant space, sunlight, and moist but well-drained soil, so it can fully express itself at the back of a flower bed.

Macleaya microcarpa is a woody-based herbaceous perennial native to China, belonging to the Papaveraceae family. This unlikely cousin of poppies forms an imposing clump exceeding 1m (3ft) in height and width for the foliage, and often reaching 2m (7ft) in height when flowering in our climates. The plant spreads rapidly thanks to its running roots, making it suitable for large spaces. Flowering takes place in summer, in June-July, in the form of large plume-like inflorescences that persist on the plant for a long time. The flowers are tiny but countless, and composed of two sepals forming a calyx of soft coral-pink. The stems, covered with a whitish bloom, contain yellow latex. They bear large alternate leaves, divided into 5 to 7 lobes, with a grey-green to olive-green colour, and a velvety underside of beautiful almond green. They resemble those of annual poppies. The plant readily self-seeds in moist soil, but not always faithfully with respect to the mother plant.

Macleaya microcarpa 'Kelway's Coral Plume' is undoubtedly a beautiful plant. It is majestic, hardy, and sculptural, with a truly unique appearance. This standout variety should, however, be avoided in a small garden. It will inevitably charm in wild areas, sprinkling its tall plumes throughout summer. It can be planted with willowherbs and ferns in moist soil. It pairs well with rodgersias, gunneras, giant hogweed, or angelicas, with which it quickly and dramatically fills a somewhat neglected corner. Note that its inflorescences are magnificent in fresh or dried bouquets, and its tall stems do not need staking.

There has long been confusion between the two species that make up this genus, M. microcarpa often being sold under the name of M. cordata. The difference in appearance mainly lies in the presence of two large whitish sepals on the flower, 2cm (1in) fruit capsules, and a larger size in cordata, which can reach 5 to 6m (16 to 20ft) in height.