Common Poppy
Papaver rhoeas
Also known as Corn Poppy, Flanders Poppy, Cornfield Poppy
Climate Match for your location
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A delicate annual or short-lived perennial with bright red, papery flowers and feathery foliage. Blooms prolifically in summer and readily self-seeds, often naturalized in meadows and wildflower gardens.
Why grow it
Common poppy establishes quickly and flowers prolifically with minimal inputs, making it useful for filling gaps in early-season bloom schedules or stabilizing bare ground. Compared to cultivated ornamental poppies, it tolerates poorer soils and drier conditions without supplemental feeding, and its self-seeding habit reduces replanting work in informal settings. It attracts pollinators and provides a food source for seed-eating birds.
Watch out for
Seedlings can be slow to establish and benefit from direct sowing rather than transplanting. The thin, papery petals are easily damaged by heavy rain or wind, so placement in exposed sites may result in short-lived flowers. In cultivated beds, prolific self-seeding may require deadheading or management to prevent unwanted spread in subsequent seasons.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Papaveraceae
Native Range
Mediterranean
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Season of Interest
Herb
Soft non-woody plants of the field layer.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
A delicate annual or short-lived perennial with bright red, papery flowers and feathery foliage. Blooms prolifically in summer and readily self-seeds, often naturalized in meadows and wildflower gardens.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Common Poppy grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Common poppy establishes quickly and flowers prolifically with minimal inputs, making it useful for filling gaps in early-season bloom schedules or stabilizing bare ground. Compared to cultivated ornamental poppies, it tolerates poorer soils and drier conditions without supplemental feeding, and its self-seeding habit reduces replanting work in informal settings. It attracts pollinators and provides a food source for seed-eating birds.
Watch out for
Seedlings can be slow to establish and benefit from direct sowing rather than transplanting. The thin, papery petals are easily damaged by heavy rain or wind, so placement in exposed sites may result in short-lived flowers. In cultivated beds, prolific self-seeding may require deadheading or management to prevent unwanted spread in subsequent seasons.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Papaveraceae
Native Range
Mediterranean
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Season of Interest
Herb
Soft non-woody plants of the field layer.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
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