code: 768
Long flowing stems hold deeply-cut
Family: Papaveraceae
Common name: ‘YELLOW HORNED POPPY’
Plant Classification: Hardy perennial Hardy annual
Minimum Height: 30 cm
Maximum Height: 45 cm
Long flowing stems hold deeply-cut, grey-green foliage and large, silky yellow flowers which produce enormous, long, thin curved seed pods, hence its popular name “Horned Poppy”. These plants are natives of sandy sea shore but make quite spectacular statements in the garden where they produce flowers over a long season.
Sowing advice:
Seeds can be sown at any time but are best sown in winter or early spring to benefit from a cold spell in the wet compost to break their dormancy. We advise covering seeds very thinly with sand or fine grit to about the depth of the seed size. If the seeds do not come up within 6 to 12 weeks the damp seed tray can be given cold treatment in a fridge for about four weeks. They may still take very many months to appear, so please never discard the pot or tray.
Distribution:
It is native to temperate regions of North Africa, Europe and parts of Western Asia.
Toxicity:
It produces an orange foul smelling sap, if cut open. All parts of the plant, including the seeds, are toxic, and can cause a wide range of symptoms including brain damage (if eaten), and respiratory failure, resulting in death.
Uses:
Glaucine is the main alkaloid component in Glaucium flavum. Glaucine has bronchodilator and antiinflammatory effects, acting as a PDE4 inhibitor and calcium channel blocker, and is used medically as an antitussive in some countries. Glaucine may produce side effects such as sedation, fatigue, and a hallucinogenic effect characterised by colourful visual images.
