Stylophorum diphyllum

Stylophorum diphyllum: Bright Yellow Native Poppies for the Shade

Wood poppy brings sunshine to the shade garden. Bright yellow, four-petalled flowers float over soft, lobed leaves in late spring, just as the trees close in overhead. A NATIVE THAT BRINGS ITS OWN LIGHT.

Plant Characteristics:

• Botanical Name: Stylophorum diphyllum
• Common Name: Wood Poppy, Celandine Poppy
• Height: 30–45 cm (12–18 in)
• Spread: 30–45 cm (12–18 in)
• Flowers: Bright yellow, four-petalled, poppy-like flowers about 4–5 cm (1.5–2 in) across
• Bloom Time: Late spring (May to June), with a few flowers later if the soil stays moist
• Foliage: Soft, deeply lobed, blue-green leaves with pale undersides
• Features: Native to eastern North America, deer and rabbit resistant, self-seeds gently into a colony

Where to Plant: Use it in a woodland garden, under deciduous trees, along a shady path or on the north side of the house. It looks best planted in groups, where the yellow flowers brighten a dim corner. In Ontario, wild wood poppy is endangered and found in only a few woodlands in Middlesex County. Our plants are nursery grown, so you can enjoy it at home without touching the wild ones.

Companion Plants: Plant wood poppy in a moist, shady native woodland bed with bloodroot, wood fern and late goldenrod. Sanguinaria canadensis opens white bloodroot flowers at 15 to 25 cm in April and May. Dryopteris marginalis adds leathery, blue-green evergreen fronds at 45 to 60 cm. Solidago flexicaulis brings zigzag goldenrod at 60 to 90 cm from August to October. Hystrix patula adds a native bottlebrush grass at 60 to 120 cm in flower.

Plant Care: Plant in spring or early fall, about 30 cm (12 in) apart, in moist, rich, well-drained soil with plenty of leaf mould or compost. Leave fallen leaves in place as mulch. Water during dry spells: in a drought it may go dormant early, then return the next spring. Cut off spent flowers if you don't want seedlings, or leave them and let it spread. Wear gloves when handling it, because the yellow-orange sap can irritate skin and all parts are toxic if eaten.

History: Stylophorum diphyllum grows wild in rich woods from Ontario and the Great Lakes south to Tennessee. The genus name means "style-bearing," after the long style on the seed pod, and the species name means "two-leaved," after the pair of leaves on each flowering stem.

Final Thoughts: Native, deer resistant and bright enough to see from the back door. Plant a tray and let it settle in. SUNSHINE, SHADE INCLUDED.