There were several plants that I fell in love with in 2012, and I hope will bloom in my garden in 2013.
One of them is Romneya (Matilija poppy, Tree poppy).
Originally, I was looking for Romneya coulteri (Coulter's Matilija poppy.
The specific name commemorates Thomas Coulter, an Irish botanist and explorer).
But, the plants which I bought are Romneya trichocalyx.
They say the only difference between these two is a fuzzy calyx and R.t. leaves are a bit narrower.
Romneya is native to the American Southwest, and it grows well in the Pacific Northwest too. It needs full sun and well drained soil. I placed my two new plants in a sandy spot where they can spread. And, they say it will spread!
I like everything about Romneya: height (4-8 feet), huge, showy, fragnant white flowers with sunny yellow middle, gray-green foliage, deer and rabbit resistance, drought tolerance.
These pictures of Romneya were taken in different gardens last summer. I hope my own plants will bloom in June.
I'll be glad to hear from you if you have any experience with this plant.
Kwiatki są śliczne, ale niestety nie znam ich. Zdjęcia cudowne. Pozdrawiam.
ReplyDeleteFlowers are beautiful, but unfortunately I do not know them. Photos wonderful. Yours.
I tried to grow this from seed but unfortunately failed. Lovely flowers, might try again soon.
ReplyDeleteYour new poppies are absolutely gorgeous. I wonder how they would do in the mid-Atlantic.
ReplyDeleteI know this was an old post but I've been curious about whether anyone has grown these on the East Coast too. I found something mentioning Romneya having been grown in the open in New Jersey. That entry was from a very old garden journal. I'm considering trying a gallon size plant next Spring in my garden. My garden in on a slope and I would mound the Romneya and in a lot of coarse sand and gravel.
DeleteHi Ann! I couldn't find anything on the internet about growing it on the east coast. It will be an interesting experiment. I wish you luck!
DeleteNo wonder you want these in your garden, they are awesome!
ReplyDeleteIs that edible?
ReplyDeleteI can see why these would be a favorite. I love how the petals look like crinkled up paper.
ReplyDeleteThey are truly beautiful, showy flowers. I first recall seeing them growing wild in the central to northern coastal areas in California. They must really like the sand.
ReplyDeleteI have absolutely no experience with this plant but it sure is a beauty! They wouldn't do well with all my clay.
ReplyDeleteThank you everyone! I hope my two plants will survive the winter and bloom this summer.
ReplyDeleteLooks like a fantastic plant, the flowers are sort of a cross between a single peony and a poppy.
ReplyDeleteJason, I think it's a good way to describe R. flowers!
DeleteGorgeous pictures of the Romneya. I know the plant, have seen them mostly in gardens in England and tried them myself, without success. When I see your pictures I think by myself shall I try it again? I think no, because sandy soil is certainly what they prefer and my garden is probably too wet.
ReplyDeleteJanneke, yes, you are right, they prefer sandy soil.
DeleteGorgeous flower, but 4 to 8 feet! Will you have to stake it?
ReplyDeleteDeb, it's a shrub, but they say it might need staking. I hope it won't grow so tall in my garden!
DeleteI love this plant and have grown it for several years. It will grow well for you here in Washington, maybe even too well as after a couple of years, if they are happy, they spread far and wide. Mine are planted in a parking strip and have sent runners up on the other side of the sidewalk! They are easy to pull up or transplant.
ReplyDeleteThank you Outlawgardener! It's comforting to learn that they are easy to pull up! Then, I can share with my gardening friends!
DeleteIt is hardly a surprise that you love this plant. It is a beauty! I had never heard of this plant before. I've looked it up and I definately can't give it the conditions it likes. Thank you for introducing me to a new plant :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a pretty bloom! I've never heard of this flower before, but I can see why you are so anxious to see yours bloom. What's surprising to me, though, is their height: up to 8 ft tall! They must really be an eye-catcher!
ReplyDeleteThis is one I don't know but what a beautiful presence in the garden. What a bold white bloom. Love it.
ReplyDeleteyour dog having a ball wonder why called tree poppy??
ReplyDeleteNo experience with this plant but I've seen it around a lot. It's gorgeous! Good luck with yours. I look forward to seeing photos next summer.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful bloom! Hope they overwinter well for you and return even better next season!
ReplyDeleteSarah The Diligent Gardener
Yes, the "Fried Egg Plant". I remember from my time in Northern California. They are suited to the Mediteranean dry summer. I loved them on the slopes on the sides of highways. Unless you have a large, natural garden, they can be tough to manage and do not like water in the summer once established, and they often will not establish where you want them. When they do and they are happy...look out.
ReplyDeleteI love the look of this plant, when it's young. We have some here that grows along the edge of the road leading to the farm. It's technically on my neighbor's property. She loved it too, at first, but it's so happy where it is that it's swallowing everything in its path. As she started to rip out Romneya volunteers last fall she rediscovered 2 missing Ceanothus, and a number of wayward lavender plants too. Providing it has plenty of space to breathe, I think it can be a lovely addition to a garden, although you may have to chase after some stray seedlings occasionally to keep it in check. It can look a little wild when it's mature too, so it's best suited to a casual garden. I just wouldn't recommend it for a small space.
ReplyDeleteReed Pugh and Curbstone Valley Farm, thank you for your tips! I appreciate them! I will keep an eye on my two plants. First, let's see if they can survive our very wet winter.
ReplyDeleteI don't have any experience with this flower, but I can see why you want it. Beautiful pictures!
ReplyDeleteIt has such a beautiful flower, but no I have no experience with them
ReplyDeleteVery pretty Tatyana,I to no experience with this beauty .
ReplyDeleteI shall be following all season of its growth.
So glad I followed your blog link from Garden Photo of the Day. Matilija Poppy is one of my favorites too. Loved the wonderful images and informative post...I learned a thing or two. Found here in Southern California and Northern too, they always catch my eye and my camera's too. My website holds several Matilija Poppy images, one is of the pod which I found particuarly interesting.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous! They look like they're made of paper :)
ReplyDeleteThose are beautiful. Would love to have them spread a bit. Keep us posted on yours.
ReplyDeleteHi Tatyana, this one is new to me, but what a smasher she is. Your pictures just hit me smack in the eye.
ReplyDelete