Common Name: prickly poppy
Type: Annual
Family: Papaveraceae
Native Range: Central United States
Zone: 2 to 11
Height: 2.00 to 4.00 feet
Spread: 1.00 to 2.00 feet
Bloom Time: June to August
Bloom Description: White with yellow center stamens
Sun: Full sun
Water: Dry to medium
Maintenance: Low
Suggested Use: Annual
Flower: Showy
Other: Thorns
Culture
Grow in average, dry to medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun. Performs well in sandy or gravelly soils of somewhat poor quality. Plant new seeds in the ground each year slightly before last spring frost date. Plants dislike transplanting and can be difficult to start indoors in pots. Plants may self-seed in the garden.
Noteworthy Characteristics
Argemone polyanthemos, commonly called prickly poppy, is a deep-taprooted annual or biennial that is native to sandy and grassy soils on plains, slopes, foothills and roadsides from Texas and New Mexico north to Wyoming and South Dakota. It has been introduced or has spread to some areas adjacent to the original range, including west of the Rocky Mountains. This species has fewer prickles than most other poppies in the genus, and is particularly distinguished by the absence of prickles on upper leaf surfaces. Plants typically grow to 3’ (less frequently 4’) tall clad with leaves (to 8” long) that are lobed. Leaves and stems are pale blue green. Flowers (3-4” wide) bloom from late spring into summer. Each flower has 4-6 crumpled white petals and a dense center cluster of yellow stamens. Flowers give way to sparsely prickly seed capsules in late summer. Broken stems ooze an orange-yellow sap. All parts of the plant are poisonous. Plants were once used as a cataract treatment.
Genus name comes from the Greek word argemon for a poppy-like plant.
Specific epithet means many flowers.
Problems
No serious insect or disease problems. Downy mildew, anthracnose and root rot may occur.
Uses
Garden annual for beds and borders.