Papaver rhoeas (common poppy, "Hinageshi")

Japanese name: ヒナゲシ （雛芥子、雛罌粟）
Scientific name: Papaver rhoeas

[Overview]
An annual 15–70 cm tall.
The stem branches sparsely.
White latex exudes when it is damaged.
The leaves form a basal rosette, are pinnately cut, and have toothed margins.
A single flower 5–10 cm across opens upward at the tip of a flower stalk 15–70 cm tall.
There are 4 petals, round and glossy, pink to reddish purple, often with a black spot at the center.
There are 2 sepals covered with coarse hairs, which fall as the flower opens.

[Uses]
It was used in folk medicine in Europe.
The petals are called reishunka and are used to relieve coughs.

[Cultivation]
Propagate from seed.
The seed needs light to germinate, so cover it only very thinly.
It has a taproot and is difficult to transplant once large, so sow directly or sow in pots and transplant.
It grows well when planted in a sunny, well-drained, well-ventilated, fertile place.
It dislikes acidic soil.
Frost and strong cold winds can damage the leaves, so winter protection is acceptable.
It dislikes excess moisture, so rainfall is sufficient for watering.
Too much fertilizer makes the plant weak and reduces flowering, so apart from base fertilizer none is particularly needed.
If you are not collecting seed, snapping off the flower stalks after flowering keeps the plant from tiring.
Pests and diseases include damping-off of seedlings, gray mold and aphids.

[Notes]
The alternative name compares the beauty of the flower to Gubijin, a beautiful woman of Chinese history.

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