Poppy Mallow

Poppy Mallow

Poppy Mallow is a florist from East London, United Kingdom.Purple Poppy Mallow, also known as Winecups, offers a massive display of chalice-shaped magenta flowers on trailing, deeply lobed foliage. Excellent as a rock garden plant or ground cover, individual plants can spread three or more feet in width, while remaining only a foot high. Callirhoe involucrata looks great trailing over a wall and fits well in both formal and naturalized settings. Early Summer is its peak bloom time, but plants can continue blooming throughout summer and into the fall. Flowering can be prolonged by deadheading - removing old flowers before they set seed. Easily grown in dry to medium, soils in full sun, Purple Poppy Mallow is very drought tolerant with a long tap root. A larval host plant and nectar source for the Gray Hairstreak butterfly.

Mallow

It is adventive from areas further to the west or southwest of the state. Habitats include dry prairies, areas along railroads and roadsides, and abandoned fields. In these habitats, the ground vegetation is relatively low and sparse. In Illinois, Purple Poppy Mallow is often planted in flower gardens because of its attractive flowers.The flowers are cross-pollinated primarily by bees. The caterpillars of Pyrgus communis (Checkered Skipper) sometimes feed on Callirhoe spp. (Poppy Mallows). The foliage is readily consumed by mammalian herbivores, including groundhogs, deer, rabbits, and livestock. This could make the survival of local populations of this plant difficult where there is a preponderance of such animals. The taproot is edible and can be used as emergency food by humans, which means that it is probably edible to pocket gophers and other small rodents as well.

Callirhoe alceoides (Pink Poppy Mallow) has smaller flowers that are pink, rather than magenta. Another species, Callirhoe triangulata (Clustered Poppy Mallow), has leaves with a more triangular shape. A third species that is occasionally found within the state, Callirhoe digitata (Fringed Poppy Mallow), has a more erect habit with hairless stems and leaves. It is also useful to examine the carpels: While the flattened sides of the carpels of Purple Poppy Mallow have a reticulated surface, the sides of the carpels of other species in this genus are often smooth.Purple Poppy Mallow, also known as Winecup, is a widespread native plant, although some regions by introduction. Its range today stretches from Oregon to Florida, Texas to Michigan. It is typically located in open woods, thickets, and on rocky hills. Because of its long taproot, Purple Poppy Mallow is very drought-resistant, but will also become difficult to move after just a few years so choose your spot wisely. (Source: www.prairiemoon.com)