Callirhoe digitata aka Finger Poppy Mallow

Callirhoe digitata is a perennial in the mallow family. Common names include fringed poppy mallow and standing winecups. It grows wild in the central and southern United States. Its range includes Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, and Oklahoma. It grows in prairies, dry meadows, and rocky ground. In Missouri, it also grows in limestone glades.

Garden plants often reach 2–3 feet (0.61–0.91 m) tall. Some reach 4 feet (1.22 m); another source lists 5 feet (1.52 m). Plants spread 1–2 feet (0.30–0.61 m) wide. Thin, upright stems branch and give the plant an open shape. Their smooth surface has a gray-green or blue cast. The lower stem has grooves along its sides. Green leaves grow in an alternate pattern along the stems. Basal leaves divide into five to seven finger-like lobes. These lower leaves often die back before flowers appear. Upper leaves have narrow, thread-like divisions, with fewer near the top.

Magenta flowers appear from May through September. Chicago Botanic Garden lists a bloom season extending into October. Each flower stands alone on a long stalk. Five fringed petals form a cup, then spread flat. The stamens and styles join in a central column. Flowers reach about 0.17 feet (0.05 m) across. Bees visit for nectar and help pollinate the flowers. The dry fruit, a schizocarp, turns pale tan in fall. It breaks into sections, each holding one small seed. The dark brown or black seeds have a kidney shape.

Give this plant full sun and soil that drains well. It grows in clay, sand, and shallow rocky soils. It accepts acid, neutral, and alkaline soil. Dry to moderately moist ground suits it. A thick taproot helps it cope with drought. That root also makes established plants hard to move. Seed offers an easy way to raise new plants. Poor soil can limit their height. Sources place its hardiness within USDA zones 4–8 or 5–8.

Use it in borders, meadows, and native plant gardens. It also suits cottage, rock, and pollinator gardens. Its sparse leaves leave the flowers clearly visible above them. Care needs are low, with few major disease problems. Slugs can eat spring shoots and destroy established plants. Deer and rabbits also eat the leaves. The root is edible when cooked. Plants For A Future reports no known hazards or medicinal uses.