Macleaya microcarpa

Macleaya microcarpa is a species of flowering plant in the poppy family Papaveraceae. It is a vigorous, substantial herbaceous perennial growing to 2 m (7 ft) tall by 1 m (3 ft) or more wide, with grey-green felted leaves and loose panicles of buff flowers in midsummer.^[1]

Macleaya microcarpa
M. microcarpa, Berlin Botanical Garden
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Order:	Ranunculales
Family:	Papaveraceae
Genus:	Macleaya
Species:	M. microcarpa
Binomial name
Macleaya microcarpa Fedde

Etymology

The name Macleaya commemorates Alexander Macleay (1767-1848), a Scottish/Australian entomologist.^[2] The specific epithet microcarpa means "small fruit".^[3] Plants of the genus Macleaya are commonly called plume poppies.

Cultivation

Macleaya microcarpa is an imposing architectural plant which self-seeds readily, and may become a nuisance in a garden setting.^[4] It is popular as a subject for flower arranging. The cultivar 'Kelway's Coral Plume',^[5] with pink-tinged flowers, has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.^[6]