# Plume Poppy (*macleaya cordata*)

The Plume Poppy is a tall and graceful plant that grows in gardens and forest edges. Its feathery flower heads sway gently in the breeze, creating a beautiful sight for little explorers.

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Plume Poppy typically grows in gardens, woodland edges, and disturbed areas.
- **Also known as:** Chinese Plume Poppy, Macleaya, Plume Poppy Plant

![Plume Poppy](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Macleaya_cordata_2.jpg&width=800)

Photo: Sphl, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Macleaya_cordata_2.jpg)

## Appearance

The Plume Poppy is a tall, architectural plant featuring striking, deeply lobed leaves that are grey-green above and silvery-white underneath. It produces dramatic, feathery plumes of tiny, cream-white flowers that stand high above its foliage.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida
- **Order:** Ranunculales
- **Family:** Papaveraceae
- **Genus:** Macleaya

## Interesting facts

- Despite its common name, the Plume Poppy isn't a true poppy; it belongs to a different plant family!
- Its unique, flattened seed pods look like tiny, silvery hearts and rattle in the breeze when dry.
- Some people call it 'Tree Poppy' because it grows so tall, almost like a small tree!
- These majestic plants are incredibly fast growers, often shooting up several feet in a single season!

## Special abilities

- **Rhizome Runner:** Plume Poppy can spread underground using rhizomes, helping it quickly colonize new areas and form large clumps.
- **Sap Shield:** Plume Poppy has a bright orange sap that deters hungry critters, protecting its leaves from being eaten.
- **Towering Attractor:** Its tall, feathery plumes of flowers reach high, making it easy for pollinators to spot them from afar.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 150-300 cm
- **Spread:** 60-120 cm
- **Flower Size:** 0.5-1 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Summer
- **Edible:** No
- **Toxicity:** Mild
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — attracted to its nectar
- **Pollinates:** Buff-tailed Bumblebee (*Bombus terrestris*) — visits flowers for pollen
- **Pollinates:** Common Banded Hoverfly (*Syrphus ribesii*) — feeds on nectar and pollen

## Traits

- [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
- [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material.
- [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life.
- [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night.
- [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants.

## Collections

- [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

No special safety notes yet.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Plume Poppy?

Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is Plume Poppy?

150-300 cm

### How wide does Plume Poppy spread?

60-120 cm

### How big are the flowers on Plume Poppy?

0.5-1 cm

### When does Plume Poppy bloom?

Summer

### Is Plume Poppy edible?

No

### Is Plume Poppy toxic?

Mild

### What is Plume Poppy's lifecycle?

Perennial

## Where to spot

- [Palmer Playground](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/palmer-playground) — Massachusetts, US · Park

## More Plants

- [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*)
- [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*)
- [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*)
- [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*)

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Source: [Plume Poppy: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/plume-poppy)