PlantFiles: Corn Poppy, Field Poppy, Flanders Field Poppy, Shirley Poppy
Papaver rhoeas

Pretty wildflower. Weedy habit. Wiry, twining stems and delicate petals. The blooms don't last long and fade quickly in bright sun. Red flowered plant self-sowed and produced orange flowered "children."

These grow easily from seeds broadcast in February or March in the Pacific Northwest. They like full sun, fertile soil but make do with poor dry soil. They bloom for a fairly long period, in June and July. They come in a variety of colors and flower forms but the simple red ones can't be beat. They look great with delphiniums, and other poppy varieties.

With their delicate tissue-paper blossoms, Shirley Poppies are one of the delights of early Spring here in South Carolina. They're very easy to winter sow and don't mind being planted out while there's still a chance of frost -- in fact, it's the heat they don't like. Although their bloom time is brief, that just makes me appreciate them all the more.

I'm still trying to get these to grow from seed. Maybe it's my casual broadcast method in early January... that's the problem?

I finally got one of these poppies to grow, and it now seems worth the previous wasted efforts! I've tried growing from seeds. The plants would sometimes germinate in seed trays, but would soon damp off. Broadcast seeding didn't provide any results until I found out that the seeds should be planted in the cool temperatures of late Fall (October/November here in NE Florida). I broadcast some poppy seeds in November last year, using a few of my collection of Red Poppy seed packets provided in all mailings from the National Home Gardening Club. This Spring, I wasn't sure if the seedling plant that came up was a dandelion or thistle or poppy so I left it to grow instead of pulling it up. I'm glad I left it! The poppy bloomed for the first time yesterday (May 3). It will be interesting to see if it survives in our hot, humid climate and if it will reseed.

Update, 06/16/2008 - The poppies didn't reseed and I've not been able to remember to plant them at the right time for the past few years, but may try again this year.

Jeremy

The poppies of Flanders fields. I first saw them in northern France in the middle of World War 2, summer of 1944. The sight of vast fields of blood-red poppies brought back memories of my early childhood. World War 1 was still in the recent past and the songs and poetry from that war were still heard frequently on the radio. Before the war ended I visited the huge American WW 1 cemetary near Chateau Thierry and as I gazed out over the thousands of white crosses and stars of David I said, half out loud,"Here we are again, boys." Now there are blood-red poppies growing all over the world, literally and figuratively.... It is remarkable what thoughts the sight of a single plant, a single flower, can generate in one's mind. WTH.

I love the dancing petals ripe with a variety of colours from the onset of summer til it fades into fall these poppies grow well in full sun, or partial sun. They will also tolerate drought fairly well (though I wouldn't let them turn brown;)

Set out seeds in the fall for March bloomers here in southern CA. Does best in full sun. Will flop over and reach for light if in partial shade. Beautiful bloomer for after the bulbs have gone. Reseeds.

Planted from seed in spring (Mid-May for us in Alaska). Had first bloom July 4th, a brillant red with black center. Plants are 12-18" high with stems as big or bigger than my thumb. Huge fleshy plants. Will collect seeds and broadcast in fall.

I have had limited success with these plants. I never see them in cell packs so one has to buy seeds. Each brand of seeds has different qualities, some of the ones that reseeded very more successful then the ones bought in packages. Some of them had a powder mildew problem, and some of them flopped over, due to excess vegative growth, however, some of them were just lovely.

Sowing seeds to germinate in late summer, to overwinter and bloom the following spring/summer results in much bigger and healthier plants that have many more flowers than those sown in late winter or early spring.

Removing spent flower stems before seed starts to ripen results in flowering for up to 3 months.

A native species in the UK, poppies paint a new road verge or embankment a brilliant hue in their first year, but rapidly decline and after a few years exist only as seeds in the soil, waiting until the land is turned again. Once a common sight in cornfields, more effective seed cleaning and use of selective herbicides have made poppies much rarer.

Hardy Annual. Self-sows readily and is a good choice for naturalizing in a meadow garden. Single, red, cup-shaped flowers have a black blotch in the center. It is the classic poppy bloom and absolutely stunning. The original species of this plant was introduced into our country from Russia in 1876 by William Thompson, the founder of the Thompson and Morgan Seed Company. Leaves are deeply lobed and the plant is fully hardy. Seeds need darkness to germinate