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Herbaceous PerennialSynonym

Macleaya 'Spetchley Ruby'

plume poppy 'Spetchley Ruby'

A vigorous, spreading herbaceous perennial to 2m in height, with large, rounded, lobed grey-green leaves, whitish beneath. Tiny dark red flowers are carried in large, feathery plumes in early to mid summer, followed by ruby-coloured seeds

Synonyms

Macleaya 'Spetchley Ruby'
Macleaya cordata 'Spetchley Ruby'

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Ultimate height

1.5–2.5 metres

Time to ultimate height

2–5 years

Ultimate spread

1–1.5 metres

Chalk

Clay

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Moist but well–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun
Partial shade

Aspect

East–facing or South–facing or West–facing

Exposure

Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Papaveraceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Clump forming, Bushy
Genus: Macleaya are large herbaceous rhizomatous perennials with handsome palmately lobed leaves and large airy panicles of tiny flowers
Name status: Accepted

How to grow

Cultivation

Best in a deep, moderately fertile soil that is moist but well-drained, but will tolerate most soils. It needs plenty of space and has the potential to become a nuisance on sandy soils. For the best foliage, provide shelter from cold winds; likes sun but tolerates partial shade

Propagation

Propagate by division in late autumn or spring, by softwood cuttings in early summer, or by root cuttings in winter

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Cottage and informal garden
Architectural
Flower borders and beds

Pruning

Cut down to the base in late autumn

Pests

May be susceptible to slugs

Diseases

May be susceptible to grey moulds

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