Alpine poppy
Oreomecon alpina, family Papaveraceae
A small mountain poppy with white to red flowers in summer
The Alpine poppy is a short, hairy perennial that grows 5 to 25 cm tall in the Alps and nearby ranges. Its radially symmetrical flowers bloom from July to August in shades of white, yellow, orange or red, and it has a strong taproot suited to rocky ground.
- Flowers appear from July to August
- Height ranges from 5 to 25 centimeters
- Petals can be white, yellow, orange or red
- Moved to genus Oreomecon in 2021
- Has a strong taproot with upward-pointing root hairs
What does Alpine poppy look like?
This plant forms a low clump of basal leaves and sends up one or more upright, hairy stems. Each stem carries a single flower 2 to 5 cm across. The petals range from white through yellow to orange or red. All parts are covered in fine hairs, and the root system features a strong central taproot with upward-pointing root hairs.
Where does Alpine poppy come from?
First named Papaver alpinum by Linnaeus in 1753, this species was reclassified into the new genus Oreomecon in 2021. It grows wild in European mountain ranges, especially the Alps. Its classification has varied, sometimes including several closely related forms as subspecies or separate species.
When and how Alpine poppy blooms
It blooms in midsummer, typically July and August. The plant is a perennial that survives winter underground and regrows each spring. It thrives in well-drained, rocky soils at high elevations and is often grown in rock gardens because of its sturdy taproot and compact form.
Kinds of Alpine poppy
Three subspecies are currently accepted. The typical form occurs widely from France to Poland and south to Bulgaria. Subspecies tatrica grows only in the western Carpathians, while subsp. fatraemagnae is found solely in the area of the former Czechoslovakia. Many other names have been applied to this group over time.
Questions people ask about Alpine poppy
Where does the Alpine poppy come from?
It is native to the Alps and other European mountain ranges, including parts of Austria, France, Poland and Bulgaria.
When does it flower?
Its flowering period is July to August in its natural mountain habitat.
What colours are its flowers?
The flowers range from white and yellow to light or deep orange and red.
Is it the same as Papaver alpinum?
Yes, Papaver alpinum is its original name; it was renamed Oreomecon alpina in 2021.
How tall does it grow?
It reaches between 5 and 25 centimeters in height, with short upright stems.
Good reading and sources
- USDA Plants DatabaseUS Department of Agriculture, Article
- Papaver alpinumRoyal Horticultural Society, Article
- Plants of the World OnlineRoyal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Plant database
- Where it has been recordedGBIF, Plant database
- Sightings and photos by naturalistsiNaturalist, Plant database
- Oreomecon alpina on WikipediaEncyclopedia
- More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos
- Wikidata recordOpen data
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Oreomecon alpina", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). Phool rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.
It may contain mistakes. It is not medical or foraging advice: many flowers are poisonous, and traditional uses are reported, not recommended. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-03.
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