Horned Poppy
Glaucium flavum
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Pl. E0F4 — Glaucium flavum
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IOverview
Overview
The Horned Poppy (Glaucium flavum) is a perennial herb that thrives in full sun and grows up to 0.6 meters tall. Native to regions including Albania, Algeria, Belgium, Bulgaria, and parts of Europe and North Africa, this plant is known for its ornamental value as well as its edible properties. It prefers light to medium soil types and can tolerate both dry and moist conditions. The Horned Poppy's distinctive feature lies in its unique, horn-like appendages growing from the base of its leaves, which give it a striking appearance. Its hardiness ranges from zones 6-9, making it adaptable to various climates within its native range.
Quick answers
What is Horned Poppy?
The Horned Poppy (Glaucium flavum) is a perennial herb that thrives in full sun and grows up to 0.6 meters tall. Native to regions including Albania, Algeria, Belgium, Bulgaria, and parts of Europe and North Africa, this plant is known for its ornamental value as well as its edible properties.
Growingconditions · propagation · uses
VCultivation
Cultivation
Horned Poppy thrives in full sun and prefers well-draining soil that can be light (sandy), medium, or heavy (clay). It is drought-tolerant but will also grow in moist conditions. The plant is hardy in zones 6-9 and can reach a height of 0.6 meters as a perennial forb/herb. For propagation, seeds can be sown directly in the garden after the last frost or started indoors and transplanted later. Skip if you are outside the recommended hardiness range.
Light
Full sun
Water
Dry, Moist
Soil
Light (sandy), Medium, Heavy (clay)
Hardiness
6-9
Life cycle
Perennial
Habit
Forb/herb
Mature size
0.6 m tall
For first-time growers
How to grow Horned Poppy for the first time
8steps
Start with Horned Poppy as a simple, low-maintenance perennial for your garden.
- 1
What you'll need
Seeds or young plants, a trowel, and a watering can.
- 2
Best time to plant
Plant in spring after the last frost or in fall before the first freeze.
- 3
Soil and container prep
Choose a well-draining soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.5 for best growth.
- 4
Sowing or transplanting
Direct sow seeds 1 cm deep, or plant young seedlings in the garden.
- 5
First two weeks
Water regularly to keep soil moist but not waterlogged; avoid overwatering.
- 6
Ongoing care
Provide full sun and minimal watering once established. Prune dead foliage as needed.
- 7
Harvest or pruning
Prune back after flowering to encourage new growth and prevent self-seeding.
- 8
Common mistakes
Overwatering, planting in heavy soil, neglecting to prune after flowering.
VIEdible & utility
Edible & utility
Edible uses: Oil
Other uses:oil
Contextrange · companions · related
VIIDistribution
30 native · 0 introduced
Distribution
30 native · 0 introducedDistribution across3 continents· 30 native
Europe15 regions
native (15)AlbaniaBelgiumBulgariaDenmarkFranceIrelandItalyNetherlandsNorwayPolandRomaniaRussiaSpainSwedenUkraine
Asia2 regions
native (2)PalestineTurkey
Africa4 regions
native (4)AlgeriaLibyaMoroccoTunisia
Broader regions
native:Kriti, Lebanon-Syria, Sinai, Transcaucasus, Turkey-in-Europe
IXSpecimen gallery
1 image
Specimen gallery
1 imageXI
Explore further
Companion planting
Growing zone
XII
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Back to the cataloguePlant id · e0f4e5be-4363-4f5f-ad15-0aa21953b026
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