Argemone Species, Devil's Fig, Flowering Thistle, Mexican Poppy, Prickly Poppy, Yellow Thistle

Argemonemexicana

Family
Papaveraceae (pa-pav-er-AY-see-ee)
Genus
Argemone (AR-ge-mon-ee)
Species
mexicana (meks-sih-KAY-nuh)
Synonym
Argemone mexicana var. leiocarpa
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
Foliage
Herbaceous
Smooth
Velvet/Fuzzy
Height
24-36 in. (60-90 cm)
Spacing
6-9 in. (15-22 cm)
Hardiness
USDA Zone 8a: to -12.2 °C (10 °F)
USDA Zone 8b: to -9.4 °C (15 °F)
USDA Zone 9a: to -6.6 °C (20 °F)
USDA Zone 9b: to -3.8 °C (25 °F)
USDA Zone 10a: to -1.1 °C (30 °F)
USDA Zone 10b: to 1.7 °C (35 °F)
USDA Zone 11: above 4.5 °C (40 °F)
Danger
All parts of plant are poisonous if ingested
Plant has spines or sharp edges; use extreme caution when handling
Bloom Color
Bright Yellow
Bloom Time
Mid Summer
Late Summer/Early Fall
Other Details
Category
Annuals
Tropicals and Tender Perennials
Water Requirements
Average Water Needs; Water regularly; do not overwater
Foliage Color
Blue-Green
Where to Grow
Bloom Characteristics
Bloom Size
Other details
Soil pH requirements
6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic)
6.6 to 7.5 (neutral)
7.6 to 7.8 (mildly alkaline)
Patent Information
Non-patented
Propagation Methods
From seed; stratify if sowing indoors
Scarify seed before sowing
Self-sows freely; deadhead if you do not want volunteer seedlings next season
Seed Collecting
Bag seedheads to capture ripening seed
Allow seedheads to dry on plants; remove and collect seeds
Regional

This plant is said to grow outdoors in the following regions:

Sunland, California

Hollywood, Florida

Lutz, Florida

Tampa, Florida

New Braunfels, Texas

San Antonio, Texas

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Gardener's Notes:

2
positives
3
neutrals
0
negative
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I
I
| August 2009 | neutral

Beautiful plant, but very prickly (leaves included), difficult to handle, don't tolerate root disturbance. Erratic germination (after 1 y...Read More

G
Trumbull, CT | August 2008 | positive

This is a plant that not only produces a large number of seeds but they are easy to sprout as well. The seeds are about twice the size o...Read More

L
Muncie, IN | February 2008 | neutral

I found this plant growing along a fence/sidewalk (in gravely soil) on the outskirts of campus at ITESM (Tec) in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, M...Read More

F
Josephine, Arlington, TX (Zone 8a) | November 2006 | positive

Yellow Prickly-Poppy Argemone mexicana is native to Texas and other States.

D
west Houston, TX (Zone 9a) | May 2006 | neutral

A drought tolerant annual with blue-green spiny foliage variegated with white. Leaves provide stark contrast to for large (2-2.5"), fragi...Read More

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