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.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
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
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Clumping; Erect; Mounding
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Leaf margin
Dentate; Lobed
Leaf feel
Rough
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
Leaves may be toothed or pinnately lobed depending on species. Some are hairy or stiffly bristly.
Flower color
Gold/Yellow; Orange; Pink; Red/Burgundy; White
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Solitary
Flower detail
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.
Bloom time
Spring; Summer
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit detail
Fruit in the form of an elliptical, many seeded capsule. Seeds are small or minute, kidney-shaped and pitted or very finely reticulated.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
Greenland, Europe, Northern Africa, Asia, and Canada
Distribution
United States, South America, Australia, and South East Asia.