Annual
Iceland Poppy
Papaver nudicaule · Papaveraceae
Also called: Arctic Poppy, Icelandic Poppy
Iceland Poppy (Papaver nudicaule) is a moderate-water annual well suited to Tucson and the low desert. It grows to 12-24 in tall and 6-12 in wide.
Iceland Poppy at a glance
- Water use
- Moderate (established)
- Sun
- Full sun during the cool season (6+ hours) for best flowering and sturdy stems.
- Mature size
- 12-24 in tall and 6-12 in wide
- Growth rate
- Moderate to fast (germinates and matures within the cool season)
- Bloom
- Yellow, orange, salmon, pink, white, and apricot, Late winter through spring in Tucson (Feb-May).
- Cold hardiness
- Cold-hardy for our area; tolerates Tucson winter frosts and light freezes. Heat-sensitive, dying back as temperatures exceed the 80s-90s F.
- Soil
- Well-drained soil amended with compost; tolerates alkaline desert soils but needs good drainage to prevent crown rot.
- Native range
- Subarctic regions of North America, Europe, and Asia. Grown as a cool-season annual in Tucson.
- Best used as
- Cool-season color beds and borders, Cut flowers, Containers, Mass plantings and wildflower-style sweeps
- Wildlife
- Provides early-season nectar and pollen for bees on warm winter/spring days.
- Toxicity
- Contains toxic alkaloids in all parts; mildly toxic if ingested by pets, livestock, and humans (it is not the opium poppy but still should not be eaten). Keep cut sap off skin/eyes.
How to grow Iceland Poppy in Tucson & the low desert
Watering
A cool-season annual: sow seed or set out transplants Oct-Nov (germinates in cool soil; can also start indoors). Keep soil consistently moist while seedlings establish, then water regularly but allow the surface to dry slightly between waterings; avoid waterlogging. Blooms wind down as heat arrives in late spring.
Fertilizer & nutrients
Work compost into the bed at planting; feed lightly every 3-4 weeks with a balanced or bloom (higher-phosphorus) fertilizer. Avoid excess nitrogen, which produces floppy growth and fewer flowers.
Pruning & care
Deadhead spent blooms regularly to prolong flowering; remove pods before they set seed to keep plants productive. Excellent cut flower (sear stem ends).
Notes
A reliable Tucson cool-season annual planted in fall for late-winter and spring bloom. Direct-sow or transplant young plants (the taproot resents disturbance once large). It thrives in the mild winter and finishes before the brutal summer heat; replace each season.
Sources: University of Arizona Cooperative Extension / Pima County Master Gardeners; Tucson Organic Gardeners Planting Guide; Brad Lancaster Sonoran Desert Planting Calendar