Scientific: Papaver rhoeas (Synonyms: Papaver anisotrichum, Papaver caespitosum, Papaver interjectum, Papaver montenegrinum, Papaver rusticum)
Common: corn poppy, Shirley poppy, Flanders poppy, field poppy
Family: Papaveraceae
Origin: north Africa and temperate Eurasia, naturalized worldwide.
Pronounciation: Pa-PA-ver row-EE-as
Hardiness zones:
Sunset All zones
USDA All zones
Landscape Use: Cool season annual in Phoenix for winter color accent in all gardens, mass color, flower borders, patio containers. Often a constituent part of local wildflower mixes.
Form & Character: Variably small, upright, somewhat wirey, festive, loose, informal, fecund.
Growth Habit: Herbaceaous annual, acaulescent basal clumps, less than 12-inches tall.
Foliage/Texture: Basal leaves pinnately lobed or clefted, usually light pale green, sparsely pubescent; medium fine texture.
Flowers & Fruits: Bright, colorful, ephemeral flowers 1- to 3-inches wide on weak, wily, sparsely pubescent, 1- to 2-feet long scapes, flowers sometimes double; flower buds also pubescent, encapsulated fruits, oblong to 5/8-inch long.
Seasonal Color: Winter flowers range from mixtures of white, yellow, pink, orange to red.
Temperature: In Phoenix, corn poppy is a cool-season annual that has a cardinal temperature range of 35o and 90oF.
Light: Full sun
Soil: Well-drained garden soils ranging from amended to neglected.
Watering: Wide ranging from regular supplemental watering to survival on sporadic Phoenix winter rains.
Pruning: Remove spent flowers to encourage flowering.
Propagation: Seed
Disease and Pests: None
Additional comments: Corn poppy is oft thought to be a 'beautiful weed'. Quite fecund, so if plants are allowed to produce fruits to maturity, then reseeding within a garden or landscape space during ensuing winter seasons can be expected. Corn poppy is a summer annual in higher elevation Arizona landscapes such as in Flagstaff and Williams.
