[2] The Alpine poppy is a short, upright, hairy perennial with odd-pinnate leaves.

All Alpine poppy subspecies have a strong taproot and make a good rockery plant.

rhaeticum) has light yellow to orange petals and feathery foliage, and is found in the Central and Southern Alps.

Although the protected plant is rare, it is the most commonly found white flowering Alpine poppy.

kerneri), or Karawanken Alpine poppy, has two to three times pinnate deciduous leaves and bright yellow flowers.

alpinum, also known as P. burseri Crantz), or the Burser-Alpine poppy, has two to three times pinnate deciduous leaves with white flowers and is found in the northeastern Limestone Alps.