Glaucidium palmatum, commonly known as Japanese Wood Poppy, is a deciduous perennial herb native to the cool, moist understory of mountain woodlands in Japan. It typically grows to about 40 cm tall, featuring a rigid stem that bears two large palmately lobed leaves, each up to 20 cm in diameter, at the top, with smaller membranous leaves lower on the stem. The plant is noted for its striking purple flowers, which are produced singly at the top of the stem and measure approximately 8 cm in diameter. These blooms consist of four pink to pale purple (rarely white) petaloid sepals, numerous stamens, and two carpels, making them quite showy during their flowering season in late spring to early summer. The fruit is a cluster of follicles, which are less commonly observed in garden settings.

The Japanese Wood Poppy is valued for its ornamental qualities, particularly its large, attractive foliage and beautiful flowers. It has earned the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit in the UK, indicating its excellence for garden use. This plant is ideal for creating a woodland garden aesthetic, thriving in cool, moist, and sheltered locations. It is often used in shaded border plantings or as an understory plant in woodland gardens. While it prefers partial shade, it can also tolerate full shade. It requires medium amounts of water and well-drained soil with rich organic matter to flourish. Gardeners should be aware that it may require protection from slugs and snails, which find its foliage particularly appetizing.CC BY-SA 4.0