Opium Poppy
Papaver somniferum
Family: PapaveraceaeNative: Southeastern Europe and Western AsiaIdentified: Mar 28, 2026
A flowering annual herb that starts as a blue-green rosette of deeply lobed, toothed, or 'saw-edged' leaves. When mature, it produces a tall, smooth stem with large, papery flowers and distinctive bulbous seed capsules.
Learn more about Opium Poppy in the encyclopedia →Care instructions
Requires full sun and well-drained soil. They prefer to be sown directly into the ground in early spring or late autumn, as they have sensitive taproots and do not transplant well. Water moderately but avoid waterlogging.