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Herbaceous PerennialAnnual Biennial

Argemone platyceras

chicalote

A vigorous short-lived perennial grown as an annual to 40cm in height, with prickly stems and blue-grey leaves, the large, silky, saucer-shaped, poppy-like white flowers to 15cm across, in summer and autumn, are followed by prickly seed capsules

Other common names

crested poppy

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Ultimate height

0.1–0.5 metres

Time to ultimate height

1–2 years

Ultimate spread

0.1–0.5 metres

Chalk

Sand

Moisture

Well–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun

Aspect

South–facing or West–facing

Exposure

Exposed or Sheltered

Drought resistance

Yes

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Papaveraceae
Native to the UK: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Bushy
Genus: Argemone can be annuals, perennials or shrubs, often prickly, with simple, lobed or spiny leaves and showy poppy-like flowers in summer followed by large, often spiny fruits
Name status: Correct

How to grow

Cultivation

Grows best in poor, gritty or stony, sharply-drained soil in full sun

Propagation

Propagate by seed in early spring, will self-seed freely

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Coastal
Cottage and informal garden
Gravel garden
Wildlife gardens

Pruning

No pruning required, deadhead to prolong flowering

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free

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