Lapland poppy
Papaver lapponicum
Oreomecon lapponica is a species in the poppy family known by the common name Lapland poppy. It grows in the Arctic tundra from Norway around the arctic circle to Greenland.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oreomecon_lapponica
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Plantae
Phylum
Tracheophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Order
Ranunculales
Family
Papaveraceae
Genus
Papaver
Lapland poppy belongs to the family Papaveraceae, order Ranunculales, within the Magnoliopsida class.
Species Profile
Oreomecon lapponica is a species in the poppy family known by the common name Lapland poppy. It grows in the Arctic tundra from Norway around the arctic circle to Greenland. Until 2023 it was known as Papaver lapponicum.
The Lapland poppy faces severe threats from climate change as warming temperatures alter its specialized Arctic and subarctic habitat requirements. Human activities including mining, infrastructure development, and recreational activities further fragment and degrade its limited high-altitude and northern latitude populations.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
Lapland poppies have a circumpolar distribution, being native to Norway, the northern parts of Russia and Siberia, Alaska, the northern territories of Canada, and Greenland. It grows from sea level up to elevations of 1000 meters. It grows in mesic tundra environments and also in the sand and gravel of floodplains and shorelines.
Threats
IUCN Red List: Endangered
The Lapland poppy faces severe threats from climate change as warming temperatures alter its specialized Arctic and subarctic habitat requirements. Human activities including mining, infrastructure development, and recreational activities further fragment and degrade its limited high-altitude and northern latitude populations.
Climate change and habitat warming
Mining and extractive industries
Habitat fragmentation
Infrastructure development
Recreational trampling and disturbance
National vs Global Threat Status
How this species is assessed at the national level compared to its IUCN global status (EN).
| Country | National Status | Global Status | Comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| EU | DDData Deficient | ENEndangered | Lower local risk |
| EU | DDData Deficient | ENEndangered | Lower local risk |
National Red List data sourced from the National Red List Project (nationalredlist.org, ZSL) and country-specific Red List authorities.
Community Sightings
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Sources & Attribution
How to Cite
IUCN: IUCN (2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-1. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS
GBIF: GBIF.org (2025). GBIF Home Page. Available at: https://www.gbif.org
National Red Lists: ZSL (2025). National Red List. Zoological Society of London. Available at: https://www.nationalredlist.org
This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). Lapland poppy (Papaver lapponicum). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/lapland-poppy