Macleaya (Macleaya cordata) is a perennial herbaceous plant widely distributed in China, Japan, and North America. The plant reaches a height of 1.8–2 m, and its leaves have a heart-shaped form, about 20 mm wide, with a characteristic gray-blue hue on top and a white underside covered with dense hairs. The leaves possess a thin bluish-waxy cuticle that protects the plant from overheating and dry easily, making them popular in winter compositions.
From June to August, macleaya blooms with small white-cream or pinkish flowers collected in airy pyramidal inflorescences up to 40 cm long. The fruit is a pod-like capsule containing one to four seeds. The plant prefers sunny places or light partial shade and grows well on any soils, but clay loams rich in humus are particularly favorable. It does not like excessive moisture and frequent replanting.
Macleaya is valued not only for its decorative qualities but also for its medicinal properties. Extracts from its leaves are used to produce sanquirin, which has wound-healing and antibacterial effects. The cosmetic industry uses macleaya to prepare lotions and other skin care products. When working with the plant, take safety precautions: the sap is poisonous, so gloves are recommended and hands should be washed thoroughly after contact.
