The Photographic Gardening Diary : Federmohn

Federmohn ("plume poppy" or Macleaya cordata) is an imposing perennial in full flower in our garden now. It grows from nothing, from its dormant state in winter, up to three meters height every year in a couple of weeks. At the opening of our garden at the "Offene Gartenpforte" last year on a weekend in June, this was the plant that - to our surprise - caused the most comments and questions. Apparently, not many visitors knew this poppy. It is huge and dominating and needs a lot of space as it is quite invasive. Although it does not look at all like a poppy, and does not produce the typical poppy capsules and seeds, it belongs to the family of Papaveraceae. It has medicinal value and produces alkaloids with anti-bacterial and anti-fungal uses. 

In our garden it grows in two corners. Both areas have to be kept under strict control, and occasionally its underground shoots have to be ruthlessly cut off and dug out - otherwise it will overgrow all smaller perennials and shrubs - and nearly everything else in a mixed herbaceous border is smaller! 

Its large and dissected leaves have a strikingly blueish tint, that goes well with nearly all green backgrounds. Flowers are yellowish to a reddish orange. I had seen this plant first in front of a red brick wall in an English garden, but it is equally effective with a green background of a yew hedge or similar.  

Another species is Macleaya microcarpa, a bit smaller but otherwise difficult to distinguish from M. cordata.