Common Poppy (Note: The image provided displays herbaceous wildflowers, not trees)
Papaver rhoeas · Herbaceous Annual (Not a tree classification)
Plant Family
Papaveraceae
Tree Category
Wildflower / Ornamental Annual
Variety / Cultivar
Species flower / Corn Poppy
Hardiness Zones
Grown as an annual in USDA Zones 3-10; handles light frost but not extreme heat or deep shade
About This Tree
While not a tree, this is an upright annual plant reaching 30-70cm in height. It features large, solitary, brilliant red flowers with four petals and a dark center on bristly stems.
Leaf Characteristics
Pinnately lobed or deeply cut leaves, bright green, around 15cm long; arranged alternately and covered in coarse hairs
Bark Characteristics
No bark; features light green, bristly, slender stems that exude a milky sap when cut
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to Europe, North Africa, and temperate Asia; widely naturalized in North America
Growing Season
Spring to early summer flowering; sets seed and dies back in late summer; seeds overwinter in soil
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun required; prefers well-drained soil with moderate water; high drought tolerance once established
Mature Size
Typically 12 to 30 inches in height with a spread of 6 to 12 inches; fast growth rate as an annual
Special Characteristics
Symbol of remembrance; massive seed production (up to 50,000 seeds per plant); brilliant scarlet fall color is absent as it is a summer flower
Wildlife & Ecology
Highly attractive to bees and other pollinators for its abundant pollen; seeds provide food for small birds and mammals