Spring Ephemeral •  $6, 4-inch pot

Height1 to 1.5 ft
Spacing6 to 12 inches
Sun ExposurePartial, Shade
Soil MoistureMedium to Moist
Bloom ColorYellow
Bloom TimeApril, May
Companion PlantingsJacob’s Ladder, Wild Geranium, Wood Phlox, Red Columbine
Special Attributes

Stylophorum diphyllum

Also known as Celandine Poppy, Stylophorum diphyllum is a stunning woodland wildflower that easily adapts to home landscapes. Large yellow flowers up to 2-inches wide begin appearing in early April and persist for several weeks; these give way to densely hairy seed capsules (see pictures above) that eventually split open and release shiny brown-black seeds that are at least in-part dispersed by ants. Wood Poppy is easy to grow from seed and requires little care in the garden if sited correctly. Seeds should be sown immediately after collecting and not be allowed to dry out.

Wood Poppy is a spring ephemeral and will go dormant by summer following its fruiting period. Plants would benefit from a nice leaf mulch and the addition of organic matter to the soil, and are best grown under the dappled sunlight of deciduous trees that have yet to leaf-out. The attractive bipinnatifid leaves are toxic and thankfully avoided by mammalian herbivores. Wood Phlox, Virginia Bluebells, and Jacob’s Ladder would all make exceptional garden companions.

Some nurseries get their plant stock in-part by illegally digging from the wild, especially species that are difficult to grow from seed, like spring ephemerals. ReSeed Nursery grows all of its plants on-site from seed either purchased or ethically collected from the wild and will never dig wild plants.

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