A poppy is a flowering plant in the subfamily Papaveroideae of the family Papaveraceae. Poppies are herbaceous plants, often grown for their colorful flowers. The flowers of most poppy species are attractive and are widely cultivated as annual or perennial ornamental plants. Poppy seeds are rich in oil, carbohydrates, calcium, and protein. Poppy oil is often used as cooking oil, salad dressing oil, or in products such as margarine. Poppy products are also used in different paints, varnishes, and some cosmetics.

One species of poppy, Papaver somniferum, is the source of opium, which contains several natural alkaloids including morphine and codeine. All opiates share the same basic molecular structure, with just a slight change in the end molecules to differentiate heroin from morphine, codeine, oxycodone, and other varieties. The milky fluid that seeps from cuts in the unripe poppy seed pod has, since ancient times, been scraped off and air-dried to produce what is known as opium.

The red poppy is a symbol of both Remembrance and hope for a peaceful future, worn as a show of support for the Armed Forces community. The Western Front Fields of Poppies inspired the poem "In Flanders Fields," which then inspired an American academic named Moina Michael to adopt the poppy in memory of those who had fallen in the war. She campaigned to get it adopted as an official symbol of Remembrance across the United States and worked with others who were trying to do the same in Canada, Australia, and the UK.