Poppies add a splash of color to the flower bed, they're easy to grow, and there are hundreds of poppy varieties to choose from. With so many different poppy plants available, the biggest problem for gardeners is narrowing down the selection!
Choosing Poppies for the Garden
Poppies belong to the Papaveraceae family and are represented by many different species and varieties of poppy. Some species of Papaveraceae grow wild and are weed-like in appearance, and others are shrubs. When trying to choose flowering poppies for the garden, we can narrow the choice by focusing on some of the more popular types of poppies:
Corn Poppy
Corn poppy (Papaver rhoeas) is an easy-to-grow annual that blooms in spring or early summer. It comes in a variety of colors including red, white, yellow, pink, salmon, and lilac. These poppy varieties include the traditional Red Flanders poppy, which gained popularity due to the WW1 remembrance poem, In Flanders Fields, by J. McCrae.
The popular Shirley poppy has crinkled silky flower petals. Try Angel's Choir for a gorgeous double flower in pastel shades of coral, peach, and apricot or Pandora for midsized double or semi-double flowers in sultry shades of rose and red streaked with gray.
Oriental Poppy
Oriental varieties of poppy (Papaver orientale) are best known for their gigantic blooms, with some flowers reaching 9 to 10 inches (23-25 cm.) across. Oriental poppies are perennials which are winter hardy in colder climates. Flowers come in a multitude of colors, many of which have a blotch of black at the base of each petal. This species blooms in late spring or early summer.
Try Goliath for its huge traditionally shaped orange-red flowers. Interesting varieties that produce smaller ruffled blooms include Central Park (deep reddish purple with black center) and Patty's Plum (purplish plum with lavender gray centers.)
Opium Poppy
Long grown for its medicinal properties, opium poppy flowers (Papaver soniferum) are available in a wide range of colors and flowering types. Drama Queen, one of the fringed poppy varieties, has frilly crimson and indigo petals with a pale green pollen center. Dried opium poppy seed pods are also popular in floral arrangements.
Unfortunately, opium types of poppies may be illegal to grow in some locales. Be sure to check the laws in your region before attempting to grow these poppy plants.
California Poppy
Native to the west coast of the United States, these varieties of poppies produce blooms in shades of cream, yellow, orange, pink, and purple. A showpiece variety, California Watermelon Heaven's crepe paper petals are a splash of watermelon pink highlighted by a pale cream center.
Due to their shorter height, some varieties of California poppies (Eschscholzia californica) make good choices for container plants. Many California poppies are grown as annuals even though this species is considered a perennial.
Himalayan Poppy
Renowned for its true-blue flowers, Himalayan poppies (Meconopsis betonicifolia) are harder to cultivate than most species. Their growing requirements stem from their origins high in the Himalayan mountains and include an evenly moist, but well-drained soil and dappled shade. They tend to be short-lived perennials.
Iceland poppy
Although the Iceland poppy (Papaver nudicaule) is from the Papaver genus, it is one of the harder poppies to cultivate. They are not heat tolerant and, even though they are perennials, they may need to be grown as annuals throughout much of the United States.
They range in color from whites and yellows to various pastel shades of pinks and orange. As compared to other types of poppies, Iceland poppies have a longer vase life. Thus, they make excellent cut flowers.
-
Elegant Exotics: 8 Beautiful Amaryllis Varieties That Will Brighten Any Holiday DisplayWhether red, pink, white or variegated, the right amaryllis varieties can enhance any living space, especially during the holidays. We round up eight of the most exquisite
-
Forage For Herbs: 7 Tasty And Safe Wild Herbs To Pick Close To Your Own BackyardIn addition to growing your own herbal staples, did you know there are several wild options out there that are safe and tasty – and free? Try foraging these 7 wild herbs
-
Can You Grow Iceland Poppy Indoors – Caring For Iceland Poppy In A PotIf you don’t have the room to grow these plants in a flower bed, you can still grow Iceland poppy in a pot.
-
History Of Red Poppies – Why Red Poppy For RemembranceWhy red poppy for remembrance? How did the tradition of red poppy flowers begin more than a century ago? Click here to find out.
-
Planting Poppies In Containers: How To Care For Potted Poppy PlantsPoppies are beautiful in any garden bed but poppy flowers in a pot make a stunning display on a porch or balcony. Potted poppy plants are simple to grow and easy to care for. Click on the following article to learn more about container care for poppies.
-
Alpine Poppy Info: Information On Growing Rooted PoppiesAlpine poppy is a wildflower found in high elevations with cold winters. Believed to be one of the world’s most north-growing plants, if you’re a chilly climate gardener, you’ll definitely want to learn about growing alpine poppies. Find out how in this article.
-
Double Poppy Info: Learn About Growing Double Flowering PoppiesIf you are a fan of peonies and can't get enough or have difficulty growing them, then you may want to consider growing peony poppies, also known as double poppies. Wait, aren't they illegal? Click this article for additional double poppy information.
-
No Oriental Poppy Flowers – Reasons For Oriental Poppies Not BloomingOriental poppies are among the showiest of perennials, with big, bright blooms that light up a spring garden. But having no flowers on oriental poppies can happen some years, and it?s a real disappointment. Learn why it happens and what to do in this article.
-
Saving Poppy Seeds : How And When To Harvest Poppy SeedsPoppies have a bad reputation as part of the opium trade, but for gardeners, they are simply lovely blooms in brilliant colors. These easy-to-grow plants are also simple to propagate from seed. Learn when to harvest poppy seeds in this article.
-
Opium Poppy Laws – Interesting Facts About Opium PoppiesOpium poppies are steeped in culture, commerce, politics and intrigue. Curious about opium poppy laws, plants and flowers? Find out some fascinating opium poppy information in this article and learn why you shouldn't try to grow this flowers.
