Celandine-poppy
Stylophorum diphyllum
Last reviewed: September 2026
Stylophorum diphyllum, or celandine poppy, is a woodland forb with bright yellow flowers blooming April through May. It grows best in part shade with consistent medium moisture.
Toxicity unknown
Celandine-poppy (Stylophorum diphyllum) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.
Light
part shade
Water
medium
Size
12"–18" H × 12"–18" W
Bloom
Apr, May
Native to
AL, AR, DE, IL and 10 more states
Pollinators
bees, beetles
Before you buy
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Celandine-poppy is a woodland perennial that produces bright yellow, four-petaled flowers in spring above deeply lobed foliage. This compact native grows in neat clumps and goes dormant by midsummer, making it ideal for naturalizing under trees or in shaded garden beds.
Growing Celandine-poppy
Grow Celandine-poppy in part shade and medium water. Mature plants reach 12 to 18 inches tall and spread 12 to 18 inches wide. Expect low maintenance to keep it looking intentional in a front yard.
In an HOA neighborhood
Celandine-poppy is an HOA-friendly choice in the right placement. Maintenance level: low. Tidiness: 3 out of 5.
Works well in: foundation, mid zone.
- Goes completely dormant by midsummer leaving bare spots
- May self-seed and spread beyond original planting area
Wildlife value
The spring blooms provide nectar for native bees and beetles when few other flowers are available. The plant supports specialized insects that depend on native poppy family plants.
Common questions
- When does celandine poppy bloom?
- Celandine poppy typically flowers in April and May, producing bright yellow blooms on low mounding foliage.
- What kind of light does celandine poppy need?
- It grows best in part shade, though it can tolerate a range from part sun to fuller shade, especially under a deciduous tree canopy.
- How much water does celandine poppy require?
- Celandine poppy prefers medium, consistently moist soil and does not tolerate prolonged drought well.
- What pollinators visit celandine poppy flowers?
- Bees and beetles are the main visitors to celandine poppy flowers, drawn to the pollen produced by its yellow blooms.
- Is celandine poppy a good choice for a woodland garden?
- Yes, its shade tolerance, spring bloom time, and moisture preference make it well suited to shaded, humus rich woodland garden settings.
- Is Celandine-poppy HOA-friendly?
- Celandine-poppy is generally an HOA-friendly choice in the right placement, with low maintenance.
These answers were drafted with an AI model from this plant's data. Verify care details with a local expert.
Native range data from the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew). Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
If something looks wrong
Common plant problems, and what to check first
These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.
- It is dying right after planting
- Leaves turning yellow
- Wilting even though I watered it
- Brown crispy leaf tips
- Bugs on the plant
Ready to grow Celandine-poppy? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.
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