Shirley Poppy. Papaver rhoea, Poppy Family: ( Papaveraceae ), Shirley Poppy: Also called; Corn Poppy, Field Poppy, Flanders Field Poppy. We wish to thank Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia for some of the information on this page. We share images and information with Wikipedia. Papaver rhoea is a hardy annual. It self-sows readily and is a good choice for xeriscape gardens. Its single, red, cup-shaped flowers have a black spot in the center. The original species of this plant was introduced into our country from Russia in 1876 by William Thompson. We were concerned that some people might make opium from this poppy, so we checked it out. Papaver rhoeas has a very different alkaloidal makeup than Papaver somniferum, the opium poppy. While containing very small amounts of morphine, and/or codeine, there are not enough of these ingrediants in Papaver rhoea, for people to make opium from this poppy. Quick Notes: Height: Up To 1 to 2 feet tall. Flowers: Petals 4 - 6, scarlet with a white to typically black splotch at the base, glabrous, reniform to broadly obovate, up to 2 inches long, 2 1/2 inches wide. Stamens many. Flowering Time: April to November. Leaves: Alternate, petiolate below, sessile above, pinnately divided. Leaves up to 2 inches long. Found: Native to Europe but now growing throughout North America. The USDA claims Papaver rhoea is native of the USA (AK, AL, AR, CA, CT, DC, FL, IA, ID, IL, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NY, OH, OR, PA, SC, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV). Also native to Canada (BC, MB, NB, NS, ON, QC, SK). Hardiness: Can grow in Zones 11 & 10, but does not take heat well in those zones. USDA Zone 3a: to -39.9 �C (-40 �F) USDA Zone 3b: to -37.2 �C (-35 �F) USDA Zone 4a: to -34.4 �C (-30 �F) USDA Zone 4b: to -31.6 �C (-25 �F) USDA Zone 5a: to -28.8 �C (-20 �F) USDA Zone 5b: to -26.1 �C (-15 �F) USDA Zone 6a: to -23.3 �C (-10 �F) USDA Zone 6b: to -20.5 �C (-5 �F) USDA Zone 7a: to -17.7 �C (0 �F) USDA Zone 7b: to -14.9 �C (5 �F) USDA Zone 8a: to -12.2 �C (10 �F) USDA Zone 8b: to -9.4 �C (15 �F) USDA Zone 9a: to -6.6 �C (20 �F) USDA Zone 9b: to -3.8 �C (25 �F) Soil pH requirements: 6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic) 6.6 to 7.5 (neutral) 7.6 to 7.8 (mildly alkaline) 7.9 to 8.5 (alkaline) 8.6 to 9.0 (strongly alkaline) Sun Exposure: Sun to Partial Shade Light Shade Elevation: 0 - 7,000 feet. Best above 3,000 feet. Habitat: Sandy desert soils, sunny areas (not hot), good drainage. Miscellaneous: Said not to take heat very well. Many people claim they can't get it to grow very well. Said to take frequent waterings. We doubt that this is a good xeriscape plant, for lower elevations, even though many cities claim it is.

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