Flat-bud Prickly Poppy
Argemone munita
Care
full sun
very low
3–5ft tall
Resistant
Friendly
Prized
Desert scrub and interior grasslands of the Mojave and Colorado Desert margins and interior valleys, below 3000 ft elevation
Care Guide
Planting
Plant your Flat-bud Prickly Poppy in full sun - it needs it to thrive. This is a desert native that demands excellent drainage, so avoid heavy clay soils and amend with sand or gravel if needed. Space plants 2-3 feet apart since they can reach 3-5 feet tall with a substantial spread. Plant in fall or early spring when temperatures are moderate.
After Planting
Once established, this plant needs very little water - treat it like a desert dweller and let it dry out between waterings. The biggest mistake Bay Area gardeners make is overwatering; Argemone munita will rot in wet soil, so err on the side of dry. Expect white crinkly flowers with prominent yellow stamens, and let some seed pods mature if you want the plant to self-sow for next year.
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Wildlife Supported
Insects
Early season queen foraging and worker pollen collection
Spring foraging period for colony provisioning
Adult feeding on pollen during spring emergence
Spring and early summer pollen and nectar resource
Spring bloom period pollen source for honey production
Larval host plant for caterpillar development in spring
Early season pollen source for spring-emerging solitary bee
Larval host plant for caterpillar development