Wildlife
Arctic poppies are one of the most northerly growing plants in the world. Covered in black hair they are hardy and tough, with some surprisingly delicate yellow or white petals. These flowers continually turn to face the sun, tracking its progress across the sky, and attracting insects to the centre of the bloom. Arctic poppies are found growing in meadows, mountains and dry river beds. They thrive among stones that both absorb the sun's heat and provide shelter for the roots. Within their Arctic range they are most common in the Nunavut region of Canada.
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Small but tough
In the Arctic summer, meltwater from glaciers provides enough water for plants to grow.
In the Arctic summer, meltwater from glaciers provides enough water for plants to grow.
Turning heads
Arctic poppies continually turn their flowers to face the sun.
Arctic poppies continually turn their flowers to face the sun.
The Arctic poppy can be found in a number of locations including: Arctic, Europe, North America. Find out more about these places and what else lives there.
The following habitats are found across the Arctic poppy distribution range. Find out more about these environments, what it takes to live there and what else inhabits them.
Discover what these behaviours are and how different plants and animals use them.
Additional data source: Animal Diversity Web
Papaver radicatum (arctic poppy, rooted poppy, yellow poppy) is a plant species of the genus Papaver. The species grows at a latitude of 83°40'N on Kaffeklubben Island, making it (and the purple saxifrage also found on the island) the northern-most growing plant in the world. It is most commonly found in the Nunavaut region of Canada.
The Arctic poppy is restricted to small, mountainous areas in the northernmost regions of Norway and Sweden, where it is endemic. It is known from six to seven locations in Norway and two in Sweden.
This poppy appears on the Coat of arms of Nunavut.
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Shedding body parts
Flowering
Cold tolerant
Visual communication