# Poppy (*Papaver rhoeas*)

The poppy is a vibrant flower with delicate petals that dance in the breeze. It comes in shades of red, pink, orange, and white, brightening up meadows and fields.

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Snaps:** 1
- **Habitat:** Fields, Meadows
- **Also known as:** Corn Poppy, Field Poppy, Papaver rhoeas, Red Poppy

![Poppy](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771424652/objects/6327.jpg)

## Appearance

The Poppy has delicate, crinkled petals, most often bright red but can be pink, white, or orange. Its cup-shaped flowers often feature a distinct dark central spot, making them pop against green foliage.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida
- **Order:** Ranunculales
- **Family:** Papaveraceae
- **Genus:** Papaver

## Interesting facts

- Ancient Egyptians placed poppies in tombs, symbolizing eternal sleep and remembrance.
- Its crinkled petals feel like delicate tissue paper, surprisingly thin and soft.
- One poppy plant can produce over 50,000 tiny seeds from a single flower!
- Poppies can grow on battlefields, becoming symbols of remembrance and peace.

## Special abilities

- **Speedy Sprouter:** Poppy seeds can lie dormant for years and sprout quickly when soil is disturbed, helping it colonize new areas.
- **Seed Launcher:** The Poppy has a unique saltshaker-like seed pod that disperses hundreds of tiny seeds with a shake, spreading its offspring far and wide.
- **Alkaloid Armor:** Poppy plants produce mild alkaloids that deter some hungry animals from eating them, keeping the plant safer.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 30-60 cm
- **Spread:** 15-30 cm
- **Flower Size:** 5-10 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Late Spring to Summer
- **Edible:** Yes
- **Toxicity:** Mild
- **Lifecycle:** Annual
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** Honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Collects pollen, aiding poppy reproduction
- **Pollinates:** Buff-tailed bumblebee (*Bombus terrestris*) — Visits flowers for pollen, assisting fertilization
- **Pollinates:** Marmalade hoverfly (*Episyrphus balteatus*) — Feeds on pollen, contributing to plant spread

## Traits

- [Herbaceous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbaceous): Herbaceous plants are non-woody plants with soft stems that typically die back to the ground at the end of the growing season.
- [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
- [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense.
- [Medicinal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/medicinal): Medicinal plants possess chemical compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat illnesses or maintain health.

## Collections

- [Flowers](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/flowers)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Enjoy poppies from a distance and never pick them without permission.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Poppy?

Count the petals where you can, then compare the flower's center, its symmetry, how the blooms are grouped and the leaves below. Color varies between garden varieties and shifts with the light. Flower Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is Poppy?

30-60 cm

### How wide does Poppy spread?

15-30 cm

### How big are the flowers on Poppy?

5-10 cm

### When does Poppy bloom?

Late Spring to Summer

### Is Poppy edible?

Yes

### Is Poppy toxic?

Mild

### What is Poppy's lifecycle?

Annual

## Where to spot

- [Cox Arboretum and Gardens MetroPark](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cox-arboretum-and-gardens-metropark) — Ohio, US · Botanical Garden

## More Plants

- [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*)
- [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*)
- [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*)
- [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*)

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Source: [Poppy: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/poppy)