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Celandine Poppy Wikimedia Commons
Papaveraceae

Celandine Poppy

Stylophorum diphyllum

Spring's first light.

Family
Papaveraceae
Genus
Stylophorum
Native to
Eastern North America
Bloom season
Spring
Type
perennial herb
Height
1-2 ft
Sunlight
part shade to full shade
Soil
moist, humus-rich, well-drained woodland
Water
moderate
Hardiness
4-9
Lifespan
perennial

Did you know

  • When the stem is broken, it exudes a bright orange-yellow latex sap that was used historically as a dye by some Native American peoples.
  • It is one of the earliest woodland wildflowers to bloom, often appearing while tree canopy is still minimal, maximizing access to sunlight.
  • The genus name Stylophorum refers to the prominent, column-like style that persists atop the developing seed pod.
  • Seeds are distributed by ants in a process called myrmecochory — the seeds bear fatty appendages called elaiosomes that ants collect for food.
  • Despite the common name, it is not closely related to greater celandine (Chelidonium majus), though both belong to the poppy family.

Color meanings

0

renewal

1

brightness

2

woodland warmth

Uses

  • ornamental
  • woodland gardening
  • historical dye