Yellow Wood Poppy is a rhizomatous herbaceous perennial wildflower in the poppy family that is native to Eastern USA in moist open deciduous forests, along streams and ravines. It is not native to NC but readily naturalizes in the mountains and Piedmont areas. The scientific name is derived from its form, phoros relates to its long columnar style, while stylos translates to style. In spring to early summer they produce bright yellow 4-petal flowers that are followed by a bristly blue-green pod that hangs below the leaves. Although typically yellow, the flowers can contain a hint of orange. Deadhead after blooming to stimulate additional blooms. Although a self-seeder, it is not an aggressive plant and additional plants can be easily removed by pulling them up. The plants need moist humus-rich soils in partial to full shade. When mature, they are somewhat drought tolerant, however, they will go dormant in summer if allowed to dry out. Use this plant in woodland settings, shady native plant or naturalized areas or along streams and ponds. Its survival in the wild is said to be threatened in some locations by garlic mustard, an invasive plant that can destroy the habitat of this plant. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Other than minor issues with slugs, insects and disease is not an issue. Its self-seeding can become an issue when attempting to control the plants spread. The sap from the fruits were used as a dye by Native Americans. Contact with the sap can stain your skin.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day) | Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Wet
Available space
Less than 12 inches
NC region
Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 2 in. | Width: 0 ft. 9 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
Usually has a pair of opposite stem leaves and one or more basal blue-green leaves with silvery undersides. The basal leaves grow to up to 6" long and 2.5" wide with long hairy petioles. While the upper side of the leaf is glabrous, the underside is pubescent to hairy.
Flower color
Gold/Yellow
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Head; Umbel
Flower shape
Cup
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
Solitary or small clusters of 1.5-2" deep yellow flowers form at the top of the stem. It has 4 petal-like sepals, two hairy sepals, many stamens and a single knobby stigma. Blooms April to June.
Bloom time
Spring; Summer
Fruit color
Blue; Green
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
The 1-inch spindle-shaped fruits are bristly and hairy, blue-green pods. Each has 4 chambers containing dark-colored seeds. When the capsules split open, the seeds are dispersed by ants who are attracted to the plant's oily appendages.
Stem color
Green
Stem detail
The leafy stems contain yellow-orange sap. The base of the stem can be purple and covered with fine hairs.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Unknown
Origin
South Ontario to North Central & Eastern Central U.S.A
Distribution
AL , AR , DC , DE , GA , IL , IN , KY , MD , MI , MO , OH , PA , TN , VA , WV
Wildlife value
Chipmunks and mice feast on the seeds. Bees are attracted to the flowers.