Plant of the Month - Native Series

White Prickly Poppy

The white prickly poppy, Argemone albiflora, is the most abundant of the prickly poppies in Texas but it is also found in Northern Arkansas and Southern Missouri. You may be familiar with this flower because they are frequently seen along roadsides and railroad tracks. This plant grows to be 2 – 4 feet in height with flowers that are 3 – 4 in. in diameter. This flower blooms from April to June, allowing fellow plant enthusiasts to enjoy during the warmer months – but be careful; these plants tend to be very spiny!

The white prickly poppy has many uses – some dating to the native inhabitants of the Americas. The Aztecs would use the plant during sacrificial rituals while the Comanche used the sap to treat skin conditions. In nature, they are a great source of food for quail and dove due to the high, dependable, amount of seeds each plant produces.

If you want to grow the prickly poppy in your garden, some negligence is needed. This plant will not thrive in rich soil that is fertilized and watered frequently. The proper conditions for the poppy include dry, well-drained soil with a sunny to partially sunny location.

Info and Photo Credit: Native Plant Society of Texas - http://npsot.org/wp/story/2011/1936/

Info: Wildflowers of Houston & Southeast Texas By John and Gloria Tveten  Pg.75-76

Photo Credit: Wild about Texas Photography by Nancy Kissiar http://wildabouttexas.blogspot.com/2012/03/springtime-in-texas-and-prickly-poppies.html