Common Name: Poppy Mallow

General Information

Callirhoe involucrata is a herbaceous perennial plant growing from a thick, tuberous taproot; it produces procumbent stems that form a mat of growth around 15 - 25cm tall and around 100cm in diameter[].
The plant is harvested fom the wild for local use as a food and a medcine. Often grown as an ornamental in gardens, where it is valued for its attractive flowers and long flowering season.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

, ,

Range

Central N. America - Wyoming to Minnesota and Indiana, south to northern Mexico, New Mexico, Texas and Arkansas

Habitat

Grows in dry soils on the plains[, ]. Sandy, eroding dry ground and roadsides in Texas[]. Plains, prairies, waste places, along roads; at elevations from 200 - 1,500 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	0.15 m
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Callirhoe involucrata is hardy to about -15°c[].
Prefers a light, rich, sandy, well-drained loam and a sunny position[, , ]. Likes a hot dry position[], growing well on a dry sunny bank[]. Established plants are drought tolerant[].
The plant develops a long taproott, it strongly resents root disturbance and should be planted into its final position as soon as possible[, , ].
Easily grown from seed - in good growing conditions the plant will often self-sow in the garden[].
Slugs are strongly attracted to this plant and can destroy even established plants by eating out all the young shoots in spring[].

Edible Uses

Root - cooked[, , , ]. The root is long and tapering[], it is sweet and starchy with a pleasant taste somewhat like that of a sweet potato[].

Leaves - cooked. A pleasant flavour with a mucilaginous texture, they are good for thickening soups[].

Medicinal

A decoction of the root is used to treat internal pain[, , ]. The root was also dried, then burnt and the smoke either inhaled or allowed to bathe the affected part of the body[, ].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - sow outdoors or in a cold frame. Plants resent root disturbance so the seed is best sown in situ in mid spring[], though the slugs will have a field day if you do not protect the plants[]. If seed is in short supply then sow it in pots in a cold frame, putting a few seeds in each pot, and plant the pots out in early summer once the plants have put on at least 15cm of growth. Germination usually takes place within 1 - 6 months at 15°c[].
Cuttings of young basal shoots in a frame in sand[, ]. Harvest the shoots when they are about 10cm long with plenty of underground stem. Pot them up into individual pots and keep them in light shade in a cold frame or greenhouse until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the summer.
Division[]. With care since the plant resents root disturbance. We have found that it is best not to disturb this plant and so do not try to divide it, relying instead on taking basal cuttings since these do not disturb the main clump[].