Papaver dubium aka Long Smooth Headed Poppy

Papaver dubium, the long-headed poppy, belongs to the poppy family, Papaveraceae. It grows as an annual and completes its growth within one year. Kew places its native range in east-central and southeastern Europe. The RHS also lists it as native to Britain and Ireland. Its wider recorded range spans Europe, parts of Asia, and North Africa. It grows in arable fields, among cereal crops, and on waste ground.

This upright plant brings a loose form to garden beds. The RHS gives a garden height of 0.3–1.6 feet [0.1–0.5 metres]. Its description allows taller plants, reaching 2 feet [0.6 metres]. Plants spread about 0.3–1.6 feet [0.1–0.5 metres]. Fine divisions give the blue-green leaves a light, open look. Hairs cover the leaves, which reach 0.5 feet [0.15 metres] long. The upright flower stems also bear hairs. The foliage is deciduous.

Single flowers top the stems through summer. Each bloom forms a shallow saucer in reddish orange or reddish pink. Flowers can reach 0.23 feet [0.07 metres] across. Long seed capsules follow the blooms and have clear ribs. The flowers suit informal beds, cottage gardens, and wildflower meadows. The RHS also suggests this poppy for wildlife gardens. Its field-weed habit is worth noting when choosing a planting site. Remove spent flowers when you do not need seed.

Choose an open site with full sun and soil that drains well. Chalk, loam, and sand all suit it. It accepts acid, neutral, and alkaline soils. The listed moisture range runs from dry to moist. Both exposed and sheltered sites can support it. Sow seed straight into its growing site in spring. The RHS assigns it hardiness rating H5. Plants For A Future lists USDA zones 6–9. These ratings come from different systems and do not describe identical conditions.

Aphids may attack the plant. Possible diseases include downy mildew, powdery mildew, fungal wilts, and verticillium wilt. Plants For A Future reports low toxicity to mammals. This makes it unsuitable to treat as a food plant. That source says the seed is not toxic, but records no edible uses. It records a medicinal use to promote sweating, with a low medicinal rating. This record does not establish that home use is safe. It lists no other practical uses.