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Common Name: Corn Poppy

General Information

Papaver rhoeas is an annual plant that can grow up to 0.60 metres tall.
It is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of materials.

Known Hazards

This plant is toxic to mammals, though the toxicity is low[]. The seed is not toxic[].

Botanical References

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Range

Europe, including Britain, from Scandanavia south and east to N. Africa and temperate Asia.

Habitat

A common weed of cultivated land and waste places, avoiding acid soils[]. Becoming far less frequent on cultivated land due to modern agricultural practices.

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Annual
Height	0.60 m
Pollinators	Bees, Flies, Beetles, Self
Self-fertile	Yes
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Prefers a well-drained sandy loam in a sunny position[, ]. Does not do well on wet clay soils but succeeds in most other soils[].
Plants usually self-sow freely when growing in suitable conditions so long as the soil surface is disturbed[].
There are several named varieties selected for their ornamental value[].
A polymorphic species, varying in leaf shape and flower colour[].
When growing in cereal fields, poppies decrease the yields of nearby cereal plants[, ].
Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer or rabbits[].

Edible Uses

Seed - raw or cooked. Much used as a flavouring in cakes, bread, fruit salads etc[, , , ], it imparts a very nice nutty flavour[]. The seeds are rather small, but they are contained in fairly large seed pods and so are easy to harvest. The seeds are perfectly safe to eat, containing none of the alkaloids associated with other parts of the plant[].
Leaves - raw or cooked[, ]. Used like spinach or as a flavouring in soups and salads[, ]. The leaves should not be used after the flower buds have formed[]. Some caution is advised, see the notes above on toxicity.
An edible oil is obtained from the seed[, ]. Said to be an excellent substitute for olive oil[, ], it can be used in salad dressings or for cooking[].
A syrup can be prepared from the scarlet flower petals, it is used in soups, gruels etc[, ].
A red dye from the petals is used as a food flavouring, especially in wine[].

Medicinal

The flowers of corn poppy have a long history of medicinal usage, especially for ailments in the elderly and children[, ]. Chiefly employed as a mild pain reliever and as a treatment for irritable coughs, it also helps to reduce nervous over-activity[]. Unlike the related opium poppy (P. somniferum) it is non-addictive[]. However, the plant does contain alkaloids, which are still under investigation, and so should only be used under the supervision of a qualified herbalist[].
The flowers and petals are anodyne, emollient, emmenagogue, expectorant, hypnotic, slightly narcotic and sedative[, , , , , ]. An infusion is taken internally in the treatment of bronchial complaints and coughs, insomnia, poor digestion, nervous digestive disorders and minor painful conditions[, ]. The flowers are also used in the treatment of jaundice[]. The petals are harvested as the flowers open and are dried for later use[]. They should be collected on a dry day and can be dried or made into a syrup[].
The latex in the seedpods is narcotic and slightly sedative[]. It can be used in very small quantities, and under expert supervision, as a sleep-inducing drug[].
The leaves and seeds are tonic[]. They are useful in the treatment of low fevers[].
The plant has anticancer properties[].

Other Uses

A red dye is obtained from the flowers[, , ], though it is very fugitive[]. A syrup made from the petals has been used as a colouring matter for old inks[, , ].
The red petals are used to add colour to pot-pourri[].

Propagation

Seed - sow spring or autumn in situ[].