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Iceland Poppy Wikimedia Commons
Papaveraceae

Iceland Poppy

Papaver nudicaule

Imagination, success, dreams.

Family
Papaveraceae
Genus
Papaver
Native to
Subarctic regions of Europe, Asia, North America
Bloom season
Spring, Summer
Type
Short-lived perennial
Height
30–60 cm
Sunlight
Full sun
Soil
Well-drained, gravelly
Water
Moderate
Hardiness
2–7
Lifespan
Short-lived perennial; often grown as biennial

Did you know

  • Despite the name, the Iceland poppy doesn't actually grow in Iceland — it was named for its tundra origins in subarctic regions.
  • The crepe-paper-thin petals come in some of the most luminous pastel sherbet colors of any flower — peach, apricot, pink, lemon, and cream.
  • The flower stems are leafless, which is why it's called Papaver nudicaule — 'naked stem' in Latin.
  • Each individual flower lasts only a few days, but a healthy plant produces a continuous succession of blooms for weeks.
  • Iceland poppies are among the most cold-hardy flowering plants on Earth — they bloom inside the Arctic Circle during the brief polar summer.

Color meanings

Orange

Bright optimism

Yellow

Wealth and success

Uses

  • Cottage gardens
  • Cool-season borders
  • Cut flowers
  • Cool climate gardens