Papaver
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- pah-PAY-ver
- Description
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The poppy is a genus and family of about 100 flowering, herbaceous perennials and annuals. Their native range stretches through Greenland, Europe, Northern Africa, Asia, and Northern North America. The plant is noted for basal leaves, solitary nodding flowers in many different colors, and many-seeded capsules.
In general, poppies are frost tolerant. The Iceland poppy and Oriental poppy grow best in cool climates, but may be used as annuals in warmer areas. Fall plantings of Iceland and Shirley poppy produce beautiful flowers in the spring and are seen in large drifts along North Carolina interstate highways.
When cut, the stalks will emit a milky or yellowish, orange, or red (rarely whitish) sap. Some poppy species are rich in alkaloids, notably opiates. The plant's sap can also have teratogenic properties causing abnormalities in a fetus or child during pregnancy. Poppy species are native to various locations, but many have spread worldwide introduced as ornamentals, crop weeds, and ballast waifs.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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P. orientale
- P. somniferum
P. rhoeas
- P. somniferum
- P. orientale, P. rhoeas, P. somniferum
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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P. orientale
- P. somniferum
P. rhoeas
- P. somniferum
- P. orientale, P. rhoeas, P. somniferum
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Papaver
- Family:
- Papaveraceae
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Root Cutting
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Greenland, Europe, Northern Africa, Asia, and Canada
- Distribution:
- United States, South America, Australia, and South East Asia.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Annual
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Wildflower
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Erect
- Mounding
- Maintenance:
- Low
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- NC Region:
- Mountains
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Description:
- Fruit in the form of an elliptical, many seeded capsule. Seeds are small or minute, kidney-shaped and pitted or very finely reticulated.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Orange
- Pink
- Red/Burgundy
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Solitary
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Colored Sepals
- Flower Description:
- The various species come in a variety of colors and bloom in spring to early summer. Generally solitary terminal or axillary and often on long peduncles, the flowers are showy and large with and often with drooping buds, 2 to 3 sepals, 4 to 6 petals.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Rough
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Leaf Margin:
- Dentate
- Lobed
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves may be toothed or pinnately lobed depending on species. Some are hairy or stiffly bristly.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Meadow
- Woodland
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Mass Planting
