Poppy
Papaver rhoeas
Papaveraceae, Poppy Family
For now the winter is past; the rain has ended and gone away. The blossoms appear in the countryside.
Song of Songs 2:11-12 HCSB
All people are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord endures forever.
1 Peter 1:24-25 NIV
Cultural Information
| Type | Annual |
| Height | 24 to 48 inches |
| Soil | variety of soils, keep moist and well-drained |
| Exposure | full sun |
| Leaves | 3 to 6 inches long, central rib, symmetrical, deeply lobed edges, fine hairs, pale, field-grass green, larger at base, alternating up central stock |
| Flowers | bold, stunning, orangey-red, vibrant contrast against field grass, thin, papery-looking petals, cupping central black stamen and fuzzy-looking anthers |
| Fruit | crowned pod grows out of flower center, dries pale purple to grey, contains multitude of black seed |
Planting Tips
- choose a sunny, spacious-as-possible location at back of garden bed, in a meadow garden, or unmowed field
- stunning flower color will be eye-catching across the garden; plant in a towards the back or where the blooms will command a view
- in mild climates (zone 8 or warmer), sow seeds in late fall for next spring's flowering
- in cold climates, sow seeds a few weeks before last freeze
- prepare a level surface in flower bed or field, then scatter seed evenly and press gently into soil. No need to cover seeds, they need light to germinate..
- mix seed with greensand to scatter more uniformly across the ground
- keep moist until sprouting; probably lingering winter weather will take care of this for you
- wait and watch patiently as seedlings' tufts of foliage produce a central stalk with multiple flower buds
- remember these are field flowers; grown in the garden, they may need removal of fading leaves and reshaping to reign in their wildness!
- plant towards to back of a garden bed; eventually poppy stalks grow to 3 or 4 feet tall
- poppies do not transplant well, best to grow from sowing seeds in the garden where you intend them to grow and flourish
Garden to Table
- stunning flowers simply must come from garden to vase or floral arrangement!
- choose an interesting container to compliment or contrast poppy's vivid color
- hold cut flower stems under water and make a small, second cut while submerged to prolong their freshness
- blooms will fade in 2 to 3 days, sadly; prepare arrangements just in advance of dinner party or guests' visit
- seed pods formed after flowers pass away are stunning in their own right; use as unique forms in bouquets and floral displays
- P. rhoeas are NOT the species yielding edible poppy seed; those come from P. somniferum, the opium poppy
More Research
See Blog Posts on PoppyAll people are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord endures forever.
1 Peter 1:24-25 NIV
Photo Credits
© Ldambies | Dreamstime.com Fresh green young barley field with poppies
©2019 Shelley S. Cramm detail of Papaver rhoeas seeds ready to sow in field or garden
© 2019 Shelley S. Cramm detail of poppy flower blooming in a Texas garden
