Papaver nudicaule
Origin: Poland
Improvement status: Wild
Seeds per packet: ~200
BOTANICAL SAMPLE - NOT GERMINATION TESTED
Life cycle: Perennial or Biennial
Native to northern Europe and North America (though not actually to Iceland!), this boreal poppy has delicate flowers ranging from white to yellow to orange to pink to red. It's often grown as an annual, but can be a short-lived perennial. Icelandic poppies are toxic, but have also been used medicinally to treat a variety of conditions, including respiratory problems, sleeplessness, and pain. One study found that extracts from the plant may have anti-inflammatory properties. Red and beige dyes can be obtained from the flowers, while the pods can yield yellow and brown dyes. Hardy to USDA Zones 2 to 8.
GROWING TIPS: Best sown in fall, winter, or very early spring. Surface sow, as they require light to germinate. Can start in flats for transplanting.
NOTE: The photo of a field of Icelandic poppies (in Tokyo) is from M. Takashi and is shared under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license. The rest are in the public domain.
