# thistle poppy (*Argemone polyanthemos*)

The thistle poppy is a bright yellow flower with spiky leaves. It grows in sunny places and attracts bees and butterflies, making it a cheerful sight in nature.

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 2/5 · Low
- **Habitat:** Grasslands

![thistle poppy](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Argemonepolyanthemos1.jpg&width=800)

Photo: kretyen, CC BY 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Argemonepolyanthemos1.jpg)

## Appearance

The thistle poppy has distinctive blue-green leaves covered in sharp spines, resembling a thistle. Its large, papery flowers are typically a delicate pale yellow to white, often with crumpled petals and and a bright yellow center, making it stand out in arid landscapes.

## Taxonomy

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

## Interesting facts

- Ancient people sometimes used its seeds to make a special oil for lamps.
- Despite its name, it's not a true thistle, but a type of poppy!
- Its beautiful flowers only last for one day, but new ones bloom constantly.
- The milky sap inside its stems turns a yellowish color when exposed to air!

## Special abilities

- **Spine Shield:** The thistle poppy has sharp, spiny leaves that help it defend against hungry animals trying to take a bite.
- **Sun Survival:** Thistle poppy can grow deep roots that help it find water far underground, allowing it to thrive in dry, sunny places.
- **Milky Guard:** Thistle poppy has a milky sap containing special chemicals that make it unappetizing, deterring most nibbling critters.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 30-90 cm
- **Spread:** 30-60 cm
- **Flower Size:** 5-10 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Summer to fall
- **Edible:** No
- **Toxicity:** High
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** Honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Collects nectar and pollen from its blooms.
- **Pollinates:** Vosnesensky bumblebee (*Bombus vosnesenskii*) — Transfers pollen as it visits flowers.
- **Pollinates:** Viereck's sweat bee (*Lasioglossum vierecki*) — Aids in plant reproduction.

## Traits

- [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
- [Summer Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/summer-blooming): Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished.
- [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.
- [Drought Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/drought-tolerant): Drought-tolerant plants can survive and flourish in conditions with limited water availability.
- [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
- [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals.
- [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.
- [Spiky/Thorny](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spiky-thorny): Possessing sharp, pointed projections or spines on the body or surface.

## Collections

- [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants)

## Safety

**Danger:** 2/5 · Low

Be careful not to touch the spiky leaves, as they can be sharp!

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify thistle poppy?

Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is thistle poppy?

30-90 cm

### How wide does thistle poppy spread?

30-60 cm

### How big are the flowers on thistle poppy?

5-10 cm

### When does thistle poppy bloom?

Summer to fall

### Is thistle poppy edible?

No

### Is thistle poppy toxic?

High

### What is thistle poppy's lifecycle?

Perennial

## Where to spot

- [Scotts Bluff National Monument](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/scotts-bluff-national-monument) — Nebraska, US · National Park

## 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: [Thistle Poppy: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/thistle-poppy)