MACLEAYA. Plume poppy. China, Japan. These are giant perennials of the poppy family, with unusual textures and colors. They form rather dense thickets from underground rhizomes. The individual shoots are stout and quite erect, rising 6' or more. The leaves are very large, roundish, lobed and scalloped on the margins and colored grey green above, tan to lighter grey beneath. In summer great plumes of small cream-colored blossoms, opening from bronze to flesh-colored buds, adorn the plants. The leaves take on pleasing pastel shades before the stems die down in winter. M. microcarpa and M. cordata are quite similar. The buds of M. cordata are normally darker colored, and each flower has more stamens, in a more conspicuous “brush”. However, M. microcarpa ‘Kelway’s Coral Plume’ is perhaps the showiest of all, with coral-colored flower stems and buds. It is one of the best of the plume poppies for fall color. These are striking perennials for large open spaces or the background of the perennial border. Sun, most soils, moderate to occasional watering. Hardy to 10oF or less.