Papaver rhoeas
Corn poppy is a quick annual for direct sowing in open ground. It thrives in full sun and lean, well‑drained soils. Scarlet single flowers are iconic and abundant, though each bloom lasts only one day. Plants self‑seed to return in future seasons where soil is lightly disturbed. Best displays occur in cool spring weather. Growth and bloom can slow during hot, humid spells.
At‑a‑glance
- Group/Class: Annual (corn poppy)
- Height × spread: 24-36 in × 12-18 in (60-90 cm × 30-45 cm)
- Bloom window: Late spring to early summer
- Color & flower form: Single 4‑petaled blooms, usually scarlet with a dark basal blotch; other colors exist
- Fragrance: unknown
- USDA hardiness: grown as annual in all zones
- Breeder / Year / Origin: unknown; native to Europe and West Asia
- Cut‑flower notes: Not ideal; petals shatter quickly and individual blooms are ephemeral
- Pet safety: avoid
How it differs
- Shortest individual bloom life among common poppies
- Sows itself readily in disturbed soils
- Stems are finer and more flexible than perennial poppies
- Best in lean soils; lush feeding reduces bloom
Strengths
- Fast color from seed
- Excellent for naturalistic plantings
- Draws pollen‑seeking insects
- Low input once established
Care in one minute
- Site: full sun and open exposure
- Soil: well‑drained and lean to average; avoid rich nitrogen
- Water: light to moderate; avoid overwatering
- Sowing: direct‑sow in early spring or fall in mild areas; thin seedlings for airflow
- Deadhead: remove spent pods to limit self‑sowing or leave some for reseeding
Watch‑outs
- Resents transplanting; sow where it will grow
- Self‑seeding can be heavy if not deadheaded
- Fades fast in heat and humidity
Best uses (tags)
meadows, naturalizing, pollinators, cottage
Provenance note
A symbol of remembrance; seeds can persist in soil for decades and germinate when soil is disturbed.
References
- Missouri Botanical Garden – Plant Finder: Papaver rhoeas (bloom notes, one‑day flowers)
- Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew – POWO: Papaver rhoeas (distribution, biology)
- North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox – Papaver rhoeas
Written by: Your Flowers Guide editorial team
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