Papaver bracteatum
Tall poppy with striking red blooms and a dark spot at the petal base
Papaver bracteatum is a robust perennial poppy recognized for its vivid red flowers with a black mark near the center. Native to Iran, it is valued both as an ornamental garden plant and for its role in producing thebaine, a chemical used in making certain medicines.
- Produces large, deep red flowers with a black spot near the base
- Native to Iran and related to the Oriental poppy
- Used as a source of thebaine for making pain medications
- Does not contain morphine or codeine in significant amounts
What does Papaver bracteatum look like?
This poppy stands out with its tall, sturdy stems that can reach about 1.2 meters. Its flowers are a bold, deep red, measuring up to 20 centimeters across, and each petal features a distinct black spot near the base. The plant forms a clump and displays a dramatic presence in gardens, with its large blooms held high above the foliage.
Where does Papaver bracteatum come from?
Papaver bracteatum is native to Iran. It is closely related to the Oriental poppy group and sometimes classified as a variety of Papaver orientale. Over time, it has been introduced to gardens in Europe and the United States, where it became part of breeding programs for ornamental poppies. Its scientific description dates to the late 1960s.
When and how Papaver bracteatum blooms
The plant is a perennial, returning each year from its rootstock. It grows best in temperate climates and is usually propagated by seed or division. Flowering occurs in late spring to early summer, with each stem producing a single large flower. Gardeners value it for its resilience and showy display.
How Papaver bracteatum is used
Papaver bracteatum is grown both for its striking appearance in ornamental gardens and for its high thebaine content, which is processed to make certain pain-relief medications. Unlike some other poppies, it does not produce morphine or codeine in significant amounts. It has been considered for commercial cultivation, especially in the United States.
Kinds of Papaver bracteatum
This species is part of a group that includes Papaver orientale and Papaver pseudo-orientale. Many garden poppy varieties have been developed from these, with up to 80 cultivars. Some, like 'Beauty of Livermere', are so similar to the wild form that they may be direct descendants or hybrids involving Papaver bracteatum.
What Papaver bracteatum means
Papaver bracteatum has influenced the development of many ornamental poppy varieties popular in gardens across Europe and North America. Its role in pharmaceutical production is notable, as it supplies thebaine for legal medicine manufacturing. The plant is not known for symbolic or religious uses.
Questions people ask about Papaver bracteatum
Where does Papaver bracteatum come from?
Papaver bracteatum is native to Iran and has been introduced to gardens in Europe and the United States.
What does Papaver bracteatum look like?
It has tall, stiff stems topped with large, bright red flowers, each showing a black spot at the base of the petals.
What is Papaver bracteatum used for?
It is grown as an ornamental garden flower and as a source of thebaine, which is processed into certain pain-relief medicines.
Is Papaver bracteatum related to the Oriental poppy?
Yes, it is closely related and sometimes considered a variety of Papaver orientale, the Oriental poppy.
Does Papaver bracteatum contain morphine?
No, it does not contain morphine or codeine in amounts considered significant.
Good reading and sources
- Gardens: Oriental poppiesThe Guardian, Article
- Papaver orientale var. bracteatumRoyal Horticultural Society, Article
- Plants of the World OnlineRoyal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Plant database
- Where it has been recordedGBIF, Plant database
- Papaver bracteatum on WikipediaEncyclopedia
- More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos
- Wikidata recordOpen data
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Papaver bracteatum", 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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