Arctic poppy, Alaskan Poppy, Iceland Poppy, Icelandic Poppy
Papaver nudicaule

Family: Papaveraceae

What it is like

A perennial plant which grows 30-45 cm tall. It spreads to 25 cm across. It is best treated as a biennial plant. The leaves form rings or rosettes at the base. The leaves are 3-15 cm long. These are hairy and deeply divided. They are grey-green. The stems are long and slender and leafless. The buds at the top are plump, hairy and nodding. They open to bowl shaped flowers with four petals. They are 5-10 cm wide. The flowers have a slight scent. The flowers can be white, pink, orange or yellow.

There are 50-80 Papaver species.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It grows naturally in Northern sub-arctic regions. It grows on stony or gravelly soils. It prefers a well drained sandy soil in a sunny position. It can grow in partial shade. It cannot tolerate wet soils. It suits hardiness zones 2-10.

Countries/locations it is found in

Afghanistan, Alaska, Arctic, Argentina, Australia, Central Asia, China, India, Kalmuk, Kasakhstan, Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, North America, Pakistan, Russia, Siberia, South America, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tasmania, Uzbekistan

How it is used for food

CAUTION: The leaves may be slightly toxic. The leaves are cooked and eaten. The seed is eaten raw or cooked.

Edible parts

Leaves, seeds

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seed. They are best sown directly where they are to grow. The seeds are scattered and raked in lightly. Seedlings can be transplanted. Plants should be 15 cm apart. Plants can be grown by division if it is done with care. Root cuttings will grow.

It is a short lived perennial often grown as an annual or biennial.

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Papaver alpinum var. croceum (Ledeb.) Ledeb.; Papaver miyabeanum; Papaver croceum Ledeb.; Papaver nudicaule ssp. aurantiacum (DC.) Fedde;