Wood poppies grow nicely in the shade
When talking about poppies for the garden, most of us think immediately of the Oriental Poppies (Papaveraceae orientale) with their vivid bright orange or red flowers growing in the sun.
However, there is a poppy for shade called wood poppy (Stylophorum diplyllum). The wood poppy is a member of the Papaveraceae family but is used in a completely different environment.
Wood poppies thrive in shade or partial shade. This native perennial plant grows to 1½ feet tall with basal leaves and a stem that terminates in a cluster of yellow flowers, consisting of four petals and many stamens.
The stem is hairy and has a pair of opposite leaves which are up to 6 inches long and 2½ inches across.
After the petals fall off, the pistil matures into a seed capsule about 1 inch long.
This densely hairy seed capsule divides into four parts and numerous seeds are released after the seed capsule splits apart. If you want more wood poppies in your garden, just let nature take its course.
If you want to control the number of wood poppies, you will need to pick off the seed capsules as they form. The root system also produces rhizomes, which enables this plant to form vegetative colonies.
Ants are known to be attracted to the seeds and can carry the seeds to various locations, as can just the wind blowing the seeds around. The foliage is toxic to mammals and thus deer-proof.
The foliage of the wood poppy contains a yellow sap which was used by the native Indians for dye. The species is native to woodsides from Pennsylvania to Tennessee and from Wisconsin to Missouri.
These poppies can be planted with bloodroot, which also has a yellowish-red sap in their stems and thus makes you wonder if the Indians used them both together.
Plants emerge early in the spring (early May) and bloom into June. The plant goes dormant in dry summer months and doesn't reappear until spring.
Plant this native in rich, loamy soil, and don't let it dry out until it's done blooming.
While these plants can be divided if the long, thick root isn't damaged, it's much easier to start them from seed or buy one or two plants and then let it do what it does best.
You'll soon find you have wood poppies to give away. While not invasive, it is prolific.
This plant can be grown in Zones 4 to 8 and may even continue blooming longer than stated above if conditions are right.
Companion plants are ferns, jack-in-the-pulpits, trillium, bloodroot, columbine and Virginia bluebells.
Since this is a native plant, pests and disease are almost non-existent.
If you can't find this plant at your local greenhouse or garden center, try one of the wildflower Internet sites or a nursery that specializes in wildflowers. You won't be disappointed.
Mary Ellen Walter is a Master Gardener with the Penn State Master Gardener program. She lives in Butler County.
