Common poppy

Papaver rhoeas

Poppy control is becoming increasingly difficult due to resistance to certain herbicides. That, along with a huge seed return where seeds remain viable in the soil for several years has seen an increase in Poppy populations across the UK.

Common poppy is an annual weed, ca. 20 – 80cm tall.

Leaves and flowersHairy upright stems (bleed white sap when broken) with dull green leaves. The flowers are large and red/orangey with four petals and sometimes a large black central spot.
Number of seeds produced per plantApproximately 20,000
Seed shedJune - August
Germination periodAugust - December (70%), February - May (30%)
Germination depth0.5cm
Primary dormancyLess than 50% of shed seeds are dormant
Does it have a secondary dormany?Yes
Seed longevity>5 years (seeds are well known to be viable for many decades!)
Factor promoting germinationLight
Rate of seed decline with cultivations31% per year
Geographical locationWidely distributed across the UK, less abundant in northern Scotland. Tends to favour lowland areas.
Soil TypePrefers moist soils and will thrive in bare ground.
RotationMore difficult to control in brassica crops, but lengthening the rotation by growing broad leaved as well as cereal helps to avoid repeated applications of the same herbicides and allow the use of different herbicides and hence modes of action to control the weeds.
ImpactPoppy is competitive in oilseed rape and wheat, and a population of only 12 plants per m² will reduce yields by 5% in winter wheat. It can also be problematic in spring crops.
Herbicide resistanceALS TSR

Cases of broad leaved weed resistance are still low in the UK but resistance to ALS herbicide groups has been confirmed in over 70 poppy populations.

All populations to date have shown target site resistance (TSR) to ALS-inhibitor herbicides but no cross-resistance has been found to other herbicide modes of action.

More Information on how to control this Arable Weed

Find out what our expert, Tom Robinson advises when it comes to spray application.

Find out what our expert, Neil Fuller advises when it comes to soil management.

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