Poppy: Floral Magic and Elegance

For many, the epitome of an idyllic summer day is a stroll through a flower meadow dotted with poppies. The magnificent, though fleeting, splendor that our native poppy bestows with its vibrant red blooms is often surpassed by many exotic and cultivated varieties. Some poppy flowers can form blooms up to 15 cm in size, delighting the eye with shades of orange, yellow, or brilliant red.

Our native common poppy (also known as corn poppy or Papaver rhoeas), found in our meadows, is highly adaptable. Depending on local conditions, its thin, hairy stems can reach heights of 30 to 80 cm. In early summer, it develops its characteristic nodding buds and red flowers, followed by capsule fruits containing countless tiny black seeds.

Most garden owners typically start their first attempts with annual poppy varieties like the common poppy, as these are very easy to grow from seed. However, perennial poppies are usually more enduring and spectacular. These include the Iceland poppy and the Oriental poppy. Trying the Iceland poppy (Papaver nudicaule) can be particularly rewarding, as it often produces flowers of different colors on the same plant, meaning one perennial can yield white, yellow, pink, and red blooms.

Generally, annual and biennial poppy varieties are very easy to propagate from their seeds and often self-seed successfully. To do this, distribute the black seeds evenly on the soil in autumn and keep them consistently moist. The winter cold stimulus will then encourage the seeds to germinate.

Choose a sunny, permanent spot for your perennial poppy, as it does not tolerate being transplanted. For example, it can be combined very well in a perennial bed with loose, nutrient-rich soil alongside other perennials such as coneflowers, daisies, baby's breath, and forget-me-nots.

Water sparingly and fertilize with organic material like compost or horn meal. One measure that conserves the poppy's energy is to cut off withered flower heads; this also prevents the plant from self-seeding where you don't want it. When the above-ground parts of the plant have completely withered in autumn, you can cut them back to help the perennial poppy get through winter healthily.