Practical
Plants

Papaver nudicaule

Arctic Poppy

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Genus
Papaver
Life cycle
perennial
Height
0.3 m
Spread
0.25 m
Fertility
self fertile
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Bees, Self

Uses

Toxicity

Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.

This plant is toxic to mammals, though the toxicity is low[10].

Edible uses

Leaves - cooked[4]. Very agreeable to the taste, the leaves are a good source of vitamin C[4]. Some caution is advised, see the notes above on toxicity. Seed - raw or cooked. Oleaginous and antiscorbutic, the seed is very agreeable to the taste[4]. It contains some opium[8]. Caution is advised, see note at top of page.

Plant part
Leaves
Plant part
Seed

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

Anodyne, antiscorbutic[4][8]. The flowers and seed capsules are mildly diaphoretic[7].

Product or use
Anodyne
Product or use
Antiscorbutic
Product or use
Diaphoretic

Material uses

Red and beige dyes are obtained from the flowers[2]. Yellow and brown dyes are obtained from the flower pods[2] (does this mean the immature flower bud or the developing seed head?).

Product or use
Dye

Environment

Range
Northern sub-arctic regions.
Habitat
Stony slopes, river gravels and sandy meadows[9].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 2+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

Seed - sow spring in situ[1]. Plants can be transplanted[5]. Division in March or October with care[1]. Larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found that it is better to pot up the smaller divisions and grow them on in light shade in a cold frame until they are well established before planting them out in late spring or early summer. Root cuttings 10cm long, November/December in a cold frame.

Cultivation

Prefers a well-drained sandy loam in a sunny position[1][5]. Prefers a fertile soil[5]. Prefers a deep soil that is poor and dry rather than rich, and strongly dislikes wet conditions[6]. Succeeds in dry soils. Prefers partial shade[3]. There are many named varieties selected for their ornamental value[5]. Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer or rabbits[6]. A short-lived perennial, it is often grown as an annual or biennial[5]. It often dies out in heavy soils or wet winters[1].

References

  1. Sanders. T. W. Popular Hardy Perennials. Collingridge 1926-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  2. Grae. I. Nature's Colors - Dyes from Plants. MacMillan Publishing Co. New York. 1974-00-00 ISBN 0-02-544950-8

    ↩1↩2

  3. Brickell. C. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-86318-386-7

    ↩

  4. Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  5. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  6. Thomas. G. S. Perennial Garden Plants J. M. Dent & Sons, London. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0 460 86048 8

    ↩1↩2

  7. Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement). Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi. 1986-00-00

    ↩

  8. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

    ↩1↩2

  9. Komarov. V. L. Flora of the USSR. Israel Program for Scientific Translation 1968-00-00

    ↩

  10. Cooper. M. and Johnson. A. Poisonous Plants in Britain and their Effects on Animals and Man. HMSO 1984-00-00 ISBN 0112425291

    ↩

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