Practical
Plants

Papaver rhoeas

Corn Poppy

an annual member of the Papaver genus in the family Papaveraceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Genus
Papaver
Life cycle
annual
Height
0.6 m
Spread
0.15 m
Fertility
Self fertile, Bees, Flies, Beetles, Self
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Bees, Flies, Beetles, 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 section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

This plant is toxic to mammals, though the toxicity is low[25]. The seed is not toxic[25].

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - raw or cooked. Much used as a flavouring in cakes, bread, fruit salads etc[18][20][11][7], it imparts a very nice nutty flavour[K]. The seeds are rather small, but they are contained in fairly large seed pods and so are easy to harvest. The seeds are perfectly safe to eat, containing none of the alkaloids associated with other parts of the plant[14]. Leaves - raw or cooked[24][21]. Used like spinach or as a flavouring in soups and salads[4][7]. The leaves should not be used after the flower buds have formed[24]. Some caution is advised, see the notes above on toxicity. An edible oil is obtained from the seed[8][18]. Said to be an excellent substitute for olive oil[18][7], it can be used in salad dressings or for cooking[8]. A syrup can be prepared from the scarlet flower petals, it is used in soups, gruels etc[18][7]. A red dye from the petals is used as a food flavouring, especially in wine[7].

Product or use
Colouring
Product or use
Oil
Plant part
Flowers
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.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The flowers of corn poppy have a long history of medicinal usage, especially for ailments in the elderly and children[16][17]. Chiefly employed as a mild pain reliever and as a treatment for irritable coughs, it also helps to reduce nervous over-activity[17]. Unlike the related opium poppy (P. somniferum) it is non-addictive[16]. However, the plant does contain alkaloids, which are still under investigation, and so should only be used under the supervision of a qualified herbalist[16]. The flowers and petals are anodyne, emollient, emmenagogue, expectorant, hypnotic, slightly narcotic and sedative[18][24][27][3][19][22]. An infusion is taken internally in the treatment of bronchial complaints and coughs, insomnia, poor digestion, nervous digestive disorders and minor painful conditions[27][14]. The flowers are also used in the treatment of jaundice[12]. The petals are harvested as the flowers open and are dried for later use[14]. They should be collected on a dry day and can be dried or made into a syrup[18]. The latex in the seedpods is narcotic and slightly sedative[15]. It can be used in very small quantities, and under expert supervision, as a sleep-inducing drug[24]. The leaves and seeds are tonic[15]. They are useful in the treatment of low fevers[15]. The plant has anticancer properties[12].

Product or use
Anodyne
Product or use
Cancer
Product or use
Emmenagogue
Product or use
Emollient
Product or use
Expectorant
Product or use
Hypnotic
Product or use
Sedative
Product or use
Tonic

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

A red dye is obtained from the flowers[24][19][23], though it is very fugitive[18]. A syrup made from the petals has been used as a colouring matter for old inks[18][3][26]. The red petals are used to add colour to pot-pourri[14].

Product or use
Dye
Product or use
Ink
Product or use
Pot-pourri

Environment

Range
Europe, including Britain, from Scandanavia south and east to N. Africa and temperate Asia.
Habitat
A common weed of cultivated land and waste places, avoiding acid soils[5]. Becoming far less frequent on cultivated land due to modern agricultural practices.
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 5+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - sow spring or autumn in situ[10].

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Prefers a well-drained sandy loam in a sunny position[1][10]. Does not do well on wet clay soils but succeeds in most other soils[2]. Plants usually self-sow freely when growing in suitable conditions so long as the soil surface is disturbed[14]. There are several named varieties selected for their ornamental value[10]. A polymorphic species, varying in leaf shape and flower colour[5]. When growing in cereal fields, poppies decrease the yields of nearby cereal plants[6][9]. Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer or rabbits[13].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩

  2. Johnson. C. P. The Useful Plants of Great Britain.

    ↩

  3. Triska. Dr. Hamlyn Encyclopaedia of Plants. Hamlyn 1975-00-00 ISBN 0-600-33545-3

    ↩1↩2

  4. Bianchini. F., Corbetta. F. and Pistoia. M. Fruits of the Earth.

    ↩

  5. Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  6. Philbrick H. and Gregg R. B. Companion Plants. Watkins 1979-00-00

    ↩

  7. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

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

    ↩1↩2

  9. Riotte. L. Companion Planting for Successful Gardening. Garden Way, Vermont, USA. 1978-00-00 ISBN 0-88266-064-0

    ↩

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

    ↩1↩2↩3

  11. Lust. J. The Herb Book. Bantam books 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-553-23827-2

    ↩

  12. Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-917256-20-4

    ↩1↩2

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

    ↩

  14. Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  15. 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

    ↩1↩2↩3

  16. Phillips. R. & Foy. N. Herbs Pan Books Ltd. London. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30725-8

    ↩1↩2↩3

  17. Chevallier. A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants Dorling Kindersley. London 1996-00-00 ISBN 9-780751-303148

    ↩1↩2

  18. Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7↩8

  19. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  20. Mabey. R. Food for Free. Collins 1974-00-00 ISBN 0-00-219060-5

    ↩

  21. Larkcom. J. Salads all the Year Round. Hamlyn 1980-00-00

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  22. De. Bray. L. The Wild Garden.

    ↩

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

    ↩

  24. Chiej. R. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-356-10541-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

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

    ↩1↩2

  26. Polunin. O. and Huxley. A. Flowers of the Mediterranean. Hogarth Press 1987-00-00 ISBN 0-7012-0784-1

    ↩

  27. Launert. E. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn 1981-00-00 ISBN 0-600-37216-2

    ↩1↩2

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