Romneya coulteri Flower (08/09/2012, Kew Gardens, London)
Position: Full sun
Flowering period: Summer to autumn
Soil: Moist, well drained
Eventual Height: 2m
Eventual Spread: 2m
Hardiness: 8a – 11
Family: Papaveraceae
Romneya coulteri is a deciduous free flowering shrub. Its waxy grey/ green leaves are ovate and divided into a number of lance shaped lobes and are up to 12cm long. Its white flowers are solitary, up to 15cm across, have a cluster of yellow stamens at its center and composed of six petals. Its fruit is a bristly capsule which is up to 4cm long, these contain numerous seeds. Its roots are a network of rhizomes which may sucker.
Romneya coulteri, commonly known as Matilija Poppy, Coulter’s Matilija Poppy, Tree Poppy, Californian Tree Poppy, Canyon Poppy and Bush poppy, is native to south California and Baja California. In its native habitat it grows in dry canyons and coastal scrub.
The etymological root of the binomial name Romneya is named after Thomas Romney Robinson (1792 – 1882), an Irish astronomer. Coulteri is named after Thomas Coulter (1793 – 1843), an Irish botanist and explorer.
The landscape architect may find Romneya coulteri useful as a low maintenance free flowering shrub, particularly in hot dry locations. It dislikes strong winds. Once established this plant is drought tolerant.
Romneya coulteri (08/09/2012, Kew Gardens, London)
Ecologically, Romneya coulteri flowers are attractive to pollinating insects.
The Royal Horticultural Society has given Romneya coulteri their prestigious Award of Garden Merit in 1993.
Romneya coulteri prefers moist, fertile, humus rich, well-drained soils. It tolerates most pH of soil.
Romneya coulteri requires little maintenance. It will not tolerate being moved. To keep a tidy appearance they may be cut back to a permanent framework each spring.
