| Scientific Name: | Papaver somniferum |
| Common Name: | opium poppy |
| Family Name: | Papaveraceae |
| Origin: | Central / west Asia, Europe |
| Hardiness Zone: | Zone 2: (-46 to -40 °C) |
| Plant Type: | Annual (true) |
| Mature Size: | 0.4 - 0.7m x 0.1 - 0.3m (height x width) |
| Habit: | Upright |
| Form: | Oval - vertical |
| Texture: | Medium - fine |
| Landscape Uses: | Medicinal plant, Perennial border, Small garden/space, Spring interest |
| Exposure: | Full sun, Part sun/part shade |
| Soil or Media: | Well-drained |
| Leaves: | Simple, Alternate, Basal, Soft flexible, Pinnate venation, Glabrous, Oblanceolate, Cleft (parted) |
| Flowers: | Flowers solitary, White, Orange, Yellow, Red, Apr-May-Jun |
| Fruit: | Capsule, Brown, Jun |
| Key ID Features: | |
| Leaves mostly alternate (basal leaves soon whither, oblanceolate, ), sessile, base cordate and clasping, margin lobed, dentate, and wavy, grey-green, most 10-30cm long x 5-20cm wide; flowers solitary, terminal, erect, with four large overlapping petals, buds nodding, peduncles hairy; capsules nearly round, smooth, 2-5cm wide, peduncle smooth (loses hairs). | |