Perennial of the Month-- September 2007 

(mac-LA-yah cor-DA-tah) (pronunciation at link, turn up volume if too low)

Common name: Plume poppy

Family: Papaveraceae, Poppy

Height x width: 6-10' x 6'

Growth rate, habit:  slow to start, rapid once established; upright

Foliage: pinnately lobed to 8" across, rounded cordate,  alternate, silver hairs on undersides, bluish waxy cast on upper surface; attractive especially blowing in wind

Flowers: creamy flower plumes (panicles) of apetalous flowers fading pinkish, very open and airy, to a foot long on stems above leaves in midsummer south, late summer north

Hardiness: USDA zones 3-8

Soil: well-drained, 

Light: full sun best, tolerates part shade

Pests and problems: none significant

Landscape habit, uses: large clumps in separate beds, backs of borders, centers of island beds, against walls and buildings, near bird feeders (small birds perch on stems), subtropical effect; combines well underplanted with spring bulbs such as daffodils, with ornamental grasses (especially blue or red-leaved switchgrass), as a background for many vigorous perennials, delphinium, monkshood, and lilies

Other interest: formerly known as Bocconia cordata, native to China and Japan; as with other members of this family, bleeds yellow sap when cut; a lovely plant in the correct setting, adds striking architectural interest, winner of the RHS award of garden merit; has been used medicinally and for pesticide, juice from stems of leaves for insect bites; although not in key poisonous plant databases, herbal and pharmacological sources list sap as poisonous; genus named for Alexander Macleay, colonial secretary for New South Wales in early 1800s

Other culture: wear gloves when pruning as sap can stain hands; a plant for large spaces, needs much space and is usually given too little space; also can spread aggressively by underground rhizomes if given room; control as lawn specimens with mowing, in the garden with annual spring spading around to cut roots; best placed as a specimen against a building (especially brick), in a bed by itself;  placed in the center of an island bed or back of a border, make sure it can be maintained around so kept in bounds, and not next to perennials it might overwhelm; may need some support in shade or windy sites

Propagation: division in early spring, basal cuttings in late spring, root cuttings in winter, stem cuttings from axils of larger leaves in summer, seeds

Sources: specialty perennial nurseries and complete garden centers local, mail order, and online