Celandine poppy is a herbaceous perennial which belongs to the poppy family or Papaveraceae. Its scientific name is Stylophorum Diphylum but it is commonly known as the Celandine poppy or Goldwood Poppy, Wood Poppy, Mock Poppy, Yellow-Poppy. The Celandine Poppy holds its origin to the Woodlands of Eastern North America. Ample of Celandine plants are found in the low elevated deciduous forests from Canada and Pennsylvania south to Kentucky, west to Missouri and Michigan, Georgia and North Alabama and Canada.

The Celandine Poppy grows as tall as l2″-24″. It has basal leaves and a few stem leaves that are grayish green and pinnately divided into 5-7 lobes. It is a beautiful flower which blooms in early spring. The Celandine poppy has flowers which are deep yellow and are very showy and they are held above its blue green leaves which are lobed. The Celandine poppy plant can grow as high as 12 to 18 inches tall and about 12 inches in width. The showy, bright yellow flowers have 4 petals and numerous stamens. The fruit is also very ornamental as it has bristly-hairy light green capsule.

The Celandine poppy is an elegant woodland perennial which has its origin in the eastern part of North America. The leaves of the Celandine poppy are bright blue-green in color and are like the leaves of oak. The Celandine plant has lemon yellow flowers which is about 2” wide and similar to poppies and bloom all through the spring till the early summers. The flowers of the Celandine poppy bloom in clusters on the stem.

The Celandine Poppy Plants grow well in soil that is rich in humus and which is evenly moist. It does not require full sunlight but can grow in shade. The plants becomes dormant during summers when the soil dries but can be seen again during spring. The Celandine plant self-sow with ease and thus is a good choice for woodland settings. The plant is usually purchased as transplants though they can be grown from seeds. The other plants with which the Celandine poppy can be grown are Columbine Virginia Bluebells, Goat’s Beard Wild Geranium and Solomon’s Seal. The Celandine poppy is also a nice companion for ferns, especially maidenhair and lady fern.

The Celandine poppy is used for naturalizing gardens or woodlands. Like other members of this family the Celandine poppy contains a yellowish-orange sap which was used as dye for baskets, clothes and war paint by Native Americans.

Apart from all this the Celandine poppy has medicinal use also. It is used as herbal medicine which is used to treat gallbladder, stomach, and liver problems. The Celandine poppy has alkaloid sap which is  dark yellow. This was at one time used medicinally. The remedies used to be very few  as they resembled either a part of the body or a symptom ,so the yellow sap from the celandine poppy was thought to be a cure for patients with jaundice but these  days many gardeners are of the opinion these days that the sap of the Celandine actually causes irritation to the skin.