Prickly Poppy is an annual or biennial in the poppy family (Papaveraceae), native to Mexico and has naturalized in many parts of the world. In regions that experience a pronounced dry season, it can be found growing in its natural habitat of dry soils along roadsides, waste places and fields. In more temperate locations, it can flower and produce seed year round. In many locations worldwide, it has become a nuisance plant in crops and is listed as a serious agricultural weed. Where fields or pastures have been overgrazed, its invasive nature has allowed it to multiply. In addition to humans, this plant is toxic for grazing animals. It grows up to 2 feet tall tall and prefers full sun in moderate to dry sandy soils. it readily reseeds itself. The solitary, showy flowers form at the tips of the branches. When cut, a yellow juice or sap is exuded. The leaves are thistle-like and are not attached to the stem by petioles. The grayish-white veins on the leaves stand out against the blue-green leaf surface. All parts of this plant are toxic if ingested. The level of toxicity varies depending on the person's size, age, and physical condition. Alkaloids from the plant are similar to those found in opium poppy. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: White flies, thrips and aphids can affect this plant.
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.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Soil texture
Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Very Dry
Available space
12 inches-3 feet
NC region
Coastal; Piedmont
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
High
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect
Texture
Medium
Leaf color
Blue; Gray/Silver; Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Obovate
Leaf margin
Dentate; Lobed
Leaf feel
Leathery; Smooth
Leaf size
> 6 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Leaves are alternate, simple, with spine-tipped lobes and whitish wax that rubs off. The upper leaves clasp the stem between its lower loves. The upper surface has a smooth feel.
Flower color
Cream/Tan; Gold/Yellow; White
Flower value
Long Bloom Season; Showy
Flower form
Solitary
Flower shape
Cup
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
Flowers have 4-6, bright yellow petals (cream-yellow or white forms) and many stamens.
Bloom time
Spring; Summer
Fruit color
Green
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit size
1-3 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Fruit detail
The fruit will split open after drying.
Stem detail
The branched, upright stem can be smooth or slightly prickly.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Unknown
Origin
Central Mexico to Honduras
Wildlife value
Bees, flies and beetles frequent this plant.
Attracts
Bees
Play value
Attractive Flowers; Buffer; Easy to Grow; Wildlife Larval Host
Food & Medicine
Harvest time
Fall; Spring
Fruit type
Capsule
Uses (ethnobotany)
Oils extracted from the seed are used for lighting and for producing soap. It has also been used on wood as a treatment for termites.
TOXIC ONLY IF LARGE QUANTITIES EATEN. Poisonous through ingestion. (Poisonous parts: All parts, seeds). Symptoms may include: Vomiting, diarrhea, difficulty of seeing, fainting, and coma.