Corn Poppy

Other names

Field Poppy, Flanders Poppy

Growth habit

Herbaceous

Perennation

Annual

Native distribution

Temperate Old World

Biocultural value

It was cultivated in ancient Egypt for medicinal use and for its edible seed oil. Seeds flavor and decorate breads and pastries. Crushed, sweetened seeds make a pastry filling.

Location

Robison Herb Garden

Source of plant

J.L. Hudson, Seedsman

Description

Annual to 90cm. Stems erect, branching, hispid, rarely glabrous. Leaves pinnate or pinnatisect, segments lanceolate, acuminate, to 15cm. Flowers solitary, to 7.5cm across; sepals hispid; petals orbicular or ovate, usually entire, occasionally crenate to emarginate, brilliant red, sometimes with black basal spot; stigmatic disc 5-18 rayed. Fruit subglobose, to 2cm, glabrous.

USDA Hardiness Zone

5

Special characteristics

medicinal/pharmaceutical, food