Macleaya

They are large rhizomatous herbaceous perennials with palmately lobed, frilly leaves of olive green or grey colour, 25 cm (10 in) long, and tall stems with airy plumes of petal-less, tubular, off-white or cream flowers.

[3] Macleaya is named after the Scottish entomologist Alexander Macleay (1767-1848).

The individual flowers are insignificant, but the combined effect of multiple stems four to six feet high can give a striking architectural effect.

They spread both by underground suckers and by seeding, so can be difficult to get rid of in some situations.

The cultivar M. × kewensis 'Flamingo' has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.