In this group

corn poppyPapaver rhoeas

This Eurasian annual is planted across the United States and sometimes escapes into disturbed ground. Its capsule is less than twice as tall as wide.

long-headed poppyPapaver dubium

This introduced annual occurs in disturbed sites in scattered U.S. states. Its narrow capsule is usually at least twice as tall as wide, and the upper stalk hairs lie close to the stem.

opium poppyPapaver somniferum

This cultivated annual has blue-green, mostly hairless foliage, upper leaves that clasp the stem, and a large rounded capsule. It is federally regulated, unlike ordinary corn poppy plantings.

fire poppyPapaver californicum

A California native of open shrubland and disturbed ground. Unlike the common California poppy, it belongs to Papaver.

Appearance

Growth form

The genus includes herbs that live for one year, two years, or several years. Cut tissues may release white, orange, or red latex, depending on the species.

Flowers

Papaver flowers may be red, orange, pink, white, purple, or yellow. Color alone cannot reliably separate corn poppy, long-headed poppy, and opium poppy.

Fruit

The fruit is a many-seeded capsule. In most species, seed escapes through pores or short slits just below the disk at the top.

How to recognize it

Buds often nod before opening, and two sepals usually fall as the flower expands. Flowers commonly have four petals and many pollen-bearing parts; the capsule is capped by a flat disk with radiating lines.

Look-alikes

Where it lives

Typical habitats

• gardens and wildflower plantings
• fields and roadsides
• arctic and alpine ground

Range

Papaver is native across temperate and cold parts of the Northern Hemisphere and in southern Africa. In the United States, the genus includes western native species as well as introduced garden escapes and crop weeds.

Preferred conditions

The familiar upright annual poppies favor sunny, well-drained ground. Other members are adapted to cold alpine or arctic habitats, so no single garden rule fits the entire genus.

Life cycle

Reproduction

Annual garden poppies reproduce readily from seed. Cultivars may have flowers with the usual number of petals, a few extra petals, or many extra petals, in many colors.

Seed dispersal

Dry stems sway and shake small seeds from the capsule like a pepper shaker. Disturbance can expose buried seed of annual field poppies.

Cautions

Cautions

Many Papaver species contain alkaloids. Opium poppy (Papaver somniferum) is the source of opium.

Name and classification

About the name

The Iceland poppy was long known as Papaver nudicaule. Recent classifications move it to a separate genus, Oreomecon, as Oreomecon nudicaulis.

Group name

Everyday “poppy” also covers California poppies (Eschscholzia) and Himalayan blue poppies (Meconopsis), which are outside Papaver.

Number of species

There are roughly 70–100 species worldwide. Totals vary depending on whether the Iceland poppy group is split off.

Varieties and forms

Corn poppy has white, pink, purple, and double-flowered cultivars in addition to the familiar red form. Opium poppy also has many ornamental forms, so flower color and petal count do not settle the legal or species identification.

Culture and stories

Culture and stories

• In the United States, federal controlled-substances law covers opium poppy plant material, except the seeds.
• The California poppy, one of those non-Papaver poppies, is California’s state flower.