Stylophorum diphyllum

Description

Stylophorum diphyllum is a widespread US native, found from Michigan south to Alabama, where it resides in rich soils streamside. In the garden, celandine poppy is very easy to grow in most woodland garden conditions, although moist soils are preferred. Deeply lobed, pinnate, green leaves compose the 1′ tall x 18″ wide clump, and are a nice backdrop for the bright yellow four-petaled flowers that emerge for us in mid-March. The flowers are followed by very hairy, thumb-sized pods, which dangle on pendulous pedicles…how poetic. WhenStylophorum diphyllum finds its happy place it willseed around the garden. Celandine poppy will go to sleep early if soils dry in early summer, but will return the following spring. The stems of celandine poppy are filled with a yellow sap, used by Native American tribes as a dye, and medicinally (glaucine) as a treatment for fevers, burns, insomnia, and respiratory infections.