Papaver

( pap - PAY - ver )

At-A-Glance Information

Commonly called Poppy, this genus of flowering herbaceous plants needs full sun and moderate water, and provides great spring and summer color to landscapes. These frost-tolerant annuals, biennials, and perennials are native to temperate and cool regions of Eurasia, Africa, and North America. They typically have four to six petals that range in color from red, orange, and yellow to pink, lilac and white. The ovary develops into a rounded seed capsule after flowers fade, and are aesthetically pleasing when left on the plant. Use these flowers in native or pollinator gardens, in cottage or informal landscapes, and to add color to beds, borders, and mixed container plantings. They are great as additions to fresh cut flower arrangements, and are also harvested for their edible seeds. Take care when planting these flowers in the garden, as plant parts are toxic to humans and pets.

Papaver Species and Varietals

The genus Papaver is the type genus for the plant family Papaveraceae and includes between 70 and 100 distinct species. The best growing zones for Poppy varies depending on the species. For more information, see the descriptions below. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.

Papaver aculeatum (Bristle Poppy, Orange Poppy, South African Poppy)
These plants are native to Namibia, South Africa, and Lesotho, and have naturalized elsewhere. This is the only species of poppy that is native to the southern hemisphere. It is an annual species, and reaches about 6 feet tall when in bloom. Flowers are reddish-orange and plants can grow in a variety of soil and climate types.

Papaver alpinum (Papaver burseri, Oreomecon alpina) (Alpine Poppy, Dwarf Poppy)
This species is perennial and grows best in zones 1-9 and 14-17, and is native to the Pyrenees, Alps, and Carpathians. It is adapted to cool climates, and needs fast-draining soil. It is great in rock gardens. Foliage is blue-green and flowers come in white, orange, salmon, and yellow, blooming in early springtime or fall. it will self-sow freely.

Papaver arenacium
This species is native to the Caucasus and Caspian regions, and produces reddish-orange flowers with black markings at the base of each petal. In some cases, this dark marking will stretch out to the outer edges of the petals, forming a cross. They generally grow in wetter, richer soils than other species in the genus.

Papaver atlanticum (Moroccan Poppy, Spanish Poppy, Atlas Poppy)
Best in zones 2b-9 and 14-24, this perennial species is native to Morocco. Leaves are grey-green and plants grow to reach 2 feet tall, and flowers bloom in late spring and early summertime. Variety 'Flore Pleno' has semi-double blooms. Seeds should be sown in fall. Remove spent flowers to encourage future blooms.

Papaver bracteatum (Iranian Poppy, Great Scarlet Poppy, Persian Poppy)
This species is a hardy perennial that produces large, deep red flowers up to 8 inches in diameter. Flowering stalks reach up to 4 feet tall when in bloom. Blooms have a prominent black spot at the base of petals. Cultivars include 'Beauty of Livermere' and 'Goliath'.

Papaver californicum (Fire Poppy, Western Poppy)
This species of poppy is endemic to California, and grows in chaparral and oak woodlands, often in places with recent burns. These annuals produce hairless stems topped with orange blooms. Flowers have green bases. Flowers last for a few days at most, and seeds can lie dormant for years. Smoke will usually trigger seeds to break dormancy.

Papaver commutatum 'Lady Bird' (Caucasian Scarlet Poppy)
This species is an annual and grows best in zones 1-24. It is native to Greece, Turkey, Iran and the Caucasus. It reaches 1.5 feet tall and just as wide. Midsummer blooms last for a few weeks, and are bright red with a black blotch in the center of each petal. Sow in late winter or early springtime, or set out plants in the middle of spring.

Papaver croceum (Ice Poppy)
These flowers can reach between 12 and 16 inches tall when in bloom, and produce leaves that are bluish-green. Flowers are solitary and have yellow, orange, reddish or white petals. They are in bloom from June through August. This species is cultivated as a garden ornamental and is native to Siberia, central Asia, and northern areas of China where it grows in pastures, meadows, rocky slopes and in landfill areas.

Papaver dahlianum (Papaver radicatum) (Svalbard Poppy)
This species is native to Greenland and Norway, and is the symbolic flower of Svalbard. These plants reach between 4 and 10 inches tall when in bloom. Leaves form a basal rosette of green foliage. Flowers are yellow to white.

Papaver glaucum (Tulip Poppy, Turkish Tulip, Turkish Red Poppy)
This species is native to the Middle East, and reaches about 35 inches tall when in bloom. Flowers are rich red with black spots in the center of petals. Inner petals stick straight up, like those of a Tulip (Tulipa), and outers are more open.

Papaver nudicaule (Iceland Poppy)
These flowers are native to subpolar regions in Asia and North America. They are hardy but short-lived perennial plants, and are often grown as biennials. Slightly fragrant flowers are large and comprised of papery white or yellow petals. The specific epithet nudicaule means 'with bare stems', referring to the hairless stems of this species. There are many cultivars of this species with varying petal colors, including yellow, orange, salmon, pink, rose, cream and white, some with bicolored flower heads. Strains include:

'Champagne Bubbles'
A 15-inch tall plant with orange, pink, scarlet, apricot, yellow, and cream-white.

'Wonderland'
A dwarf 10-inch tall strain with 4-inch wide flowers.

'Flamenco'
Flowers come in shades of pink and are bordered with white, up to 1.5-2 feet tall.

'Party Fun'
Up to a foot tall, these bloom in fall their first year and in spring their second.

'Meadow Pastels'
To two feet tall.

'Matador'
Produces scarlet flowers 5 inches in diameter on a 16-inch tall plant.

'Victory Giants'
With red petals.

'Summer Breeze Orange'
An orange-flowering dwarf variety.

Papaver orientale (Oriental Poppy)
This perennial grows best in zones A1-A3, 1-11 and 14-21 and is native to the Caucasus, northeast Turkey, and northern Iran. These plants need a bit of winter chill for the best performance. Height ranges from 16 inches to 4 feet tall depending on the variety. Plant spread by offsets to 2 feet or more, and flowers are crinkled and often have a dark spot at the base of each petal. There are many varieties, and they have flower colors in orange, scarlet, red, pink, salmon or white. They bloom late spring to early summer and then die back to the ground. New foliage will return in fall, last through winter, and quicken its growth in spring, before the plant puts out new flowers. Popular garden cultivars are listed and described below.

'Aaglaja'

'Barr's White'

'Carnival'

'Cedric Morris'

'Effendi'

'Fatima'

'John III'

'Karine'

'Olympia'

'Papillon'

'Patty's Plum'

'Perry's White'

'Picotee'

'Pinnacle'

'Royal Wedding'

'Watermelon'

Papaver pygmaeum (Alpine Glacier Poppy)
These flowering perennials are native to British Colombia, Alberta, Calgary and Montana. These plants reach up to 5 inches tall and produce yellow, orange-pink or orange flowers with a yellow spot on petals. These low-growers prefer mountain habitats and alpine climates. They prefer rocky soils.

Papaver radicatum (Arctic Poppy, Rooted Poppy, Yellow Poppy)
These plants are native to Europe, North America, and Asia, where it grows in arctic and alpine zones. They have yellow or white flowers and hairy stems. Cup-shaped flowers grow to face the sun, reflecting light inward to warm their ovaries.

Papaver rhoeas (Flanders Field Poppy, Shirley Poppy, Common Poppy, Corn Poppy, Odai, Corn Rose)
This species of Poppy is an annual and grows in zones A1-A3 and 1-24. It is native to Eurasia and North Africa, and reaches 3 feet tall and a food wide. Flowers are single or semi-double and come in white, pink, red, orange, salmon, scarlet, lilac, blue, and can be bicolored. This species is a notorious self-seeder.

Papaver setigerum (Poppy of Troy, Dwarf Breadseed Poppy)
This species produces a plant that reaches between 8 and 32 inches tall when in bloom. Stems are erect and leaves are green and simple. Flowers are cup-shaped and pink-purple with dark purple blotches at petal bases. Flowers bloom from May through June. These plants grow well in Mediterranean climates and are native to

Papaver somniferum (Opium Poppy, Breadseed Poppy)
This species is an annual that grows in all zones, and and self-sow or overwinter in mild-winter areas. It is the type species of the genus, and is native to southeastern Europe and western Asia. These plants reach 4 feet tall with late-spring flowers in white, pink, red, purple and deep plum, and usually have double blooms. Large seed capsules that follow are showy and commonly used in dried arrangements. The seeds of this variety are used in baking.

Papaver umbonatum (Semitic Poppy)
These flowers are commonly mistaken for the common poppy, Papaver rhoeas, due to their similar form and appearance. They are native to Turkey, Syria, Lebanon and Israel, where they typically grow in rocky plains. Flowers are orange-red with black marks towards petal bases.

Caring for Papaver

Papaver, or Poppy, plants are typically either grown from seed direct-sown into the garden, or are purchased as specimens from a nursery. They are generally annuals or biennials, but will self-sow in the garden, forming patches over time that come back year after year if flowers are not deadheaded. They need a space in the garden that receives full sun during the day; ideally, these plants should be getting between 6 and 8 hours of sun each day for best flowering and performance. They appreciate a well-draining soil that is enriched with plenty of compost or other organic material. The soil pH should be slightly acidic to neutral (between 6.5 and 7.0). Poppies generally do not grow well in clay soils. If local soils are particularly poor in nutrients or do not drain well, make sure to amend the planting area with plenty of organic compost before installing. Apply a thick layer of mulch around the planting area after installation to suppress weed growth, maintain consistent soil temperatures, and increase soil moisture retention. As Poppies are becoming established, they appreciate regular waterings. At maturity, they typically need about an inch of water per week. Water when the top few inches of soil feels dry to the touch, but take great care to not overwater, especially when these plants are dormant.

Fertilize yearly in early springtime with an application of 2 inches of compost around the base of plants. Pull mulch back before applying, work the compost gently into the soil a bit, water it in, and then replace mulch. These plants are not heavy feeders, and this should be sufficient to provide the necessary nutrients for the active growing and flowering seasons. Deadhead spent blooms (if you will not be saving seed for sowing the following season). Any dead, damaged or diseased foliage can be removed at any time during the growing season. Annual Poppies will be removed at the end of the season and replaced the following year. Perennial Poppies will need dividing every few years, especially if they are cultivated in a cramped space or in a container. For instructions on how to successfully divide Poppy plants, see the Propagation section below.

Growing Papaver (Poppy) In Containers
Poppies are typically grown directly in the garden soil because they have a deep tap root which needs ample depth to extend. However, they can be grown in containers if the pot is deep enough. Poppies do well in Terra-cotta pots which let excess moisture evaporate. The best size pot to grow poppies in is a 12-16 inch diameter pot that is at least a foot tall. Ensure that there are adequate drainage holes on the bottom to allow excess water to drain away from the root zone. Fill the pot with a well-draining potting mixture amended with compost and other organic material. Water deeply and keep the soil moist at all times. Poppies grown in containers will need more frequent irrigations than those grown in the ground. Perennial poppies kept in containers will become root bound after a few years of growth, and will need to be divided and repotted. For instructions on how to successfully divide Poppy plants, see the Propagation section below.

Harvesting Poppy Cut Flowers
Poppies are grown for their ornamental value, as well as for harvesting for cut flower arrangements. Oriental (Papaver orientale), Iceland (Papaver nudicaule) and Shirley (Papaver rhoeas) are the best poppies to grow for cut flowers. They are in season in spring and early summertime, and are best harvested just before their flower buds open, which is referred to as the 'cracking stage'. The best time of the day to harvest Poppy cut flowers is in the late morning, after dew has dried but before the heat of the day sets in. Using clean, sharpened shears, sever the flower stem at its base and drop it immediately into a bucket of cool water. If not using them immediately, store them in a cool space like a refrigerator. Some species of Poppies can last up to a week in a vase.

Harvesting Poppy Seeds
Poppy seeds are used to add flavor and a crunchy texture to many types of baked goods and other dishes. They are tiny but packed with flavor, and are harvested from the seed pods of the species Papaver somniferum. Poppy seeds are usually harvested when pods are fully dried and just starting to open on their own. A good test to see whether a Poppy seed pod is ready to be harvested is to shake it. If the pod rattles, it is a good indicator that harvesting time has arrived. This typically occurs 80-90 days after planting. At this time, remove the pods and place them in a paper bag or other container to be brought indoors. The seeds are very small and easy to lose. Once inside, break open the seed pods by crushing them, and separate the seed from the chaff. Allow them to dry in a cool, dark area with good air circulation. Then, store them in a glass container with a tight fitting lid. They will retain their flavor for up to a year if stored in a cool, dark, dry location.

Propagation

Papaver can be propagated either by division or from seed. To ensure that your propagated plant will have the exact same qualities and characteristics as the parent plant, use the division method. If you would like to experiment and see what plant you can grow from seed, just keep in mind that it will not necessarily be the same as the parent plant. To propagate your Poppy flowers, follow the instructions below:

Propagating Papaver by Seed

Keep in mind that the plant you get from seed will not necessarily mimic all of the characteristics of the parent plant. To propagate by seed, you will need a paper bag, a pot or tray filled with well-draining compost or other organic material, a spray bottle and a fork. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) moss peat and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand. You will also, after a few weeks, need individual 3-inch pots for each seedling that grows.
Harvest your seeds. The seed heads on plants are pretty easy to spot, they're left behind after flowers have faded and will turn brown and harden when ready to be harvested. Once they have dried out and begun to split open, you can harvest the seeds inside. Cut them off of the plant, placing them in a paper bag. Harvest as many as you can, and place the paper bag in a dry, cool, dark area. They will continue to split open and release the seeds contained inside. Once they have been released, take them out of the bag and put them in a container so you can work with them.
Poppies need a period of chill before they will germinate successfully. To mimic this natural state, place seeds in a bag filled with moistened sand or peat moss, and seal it. Place the bag in a refrigerator or similarly cool space for between 2 and 4 weeks time. After this cold-stratification period, remove the seeds and sow them.
In either late winter or early springtime, get your container prepared. Water your seed tray or pot filled with soil, and ensure that good drainage is occurring. Place your seeds in your prepared pot or seed tray about a quarter inch to a half-inch under the soil surface. Cover them with soil and water with your spray bottle. Place your tray of seeds in a warm area that receives bright, indirect light. A greenhouse is the most ideal climate, but a planting tray inside a window will do as well. Germination usually takes 2-6 weeks from sowing. Once you begin to see seedlings sprout and they are able to be handled, transplant them to their own individual 3-inch pots, filled with the same potting medium as described in Step 1. Loosen the seedlings from the potting medium by digging down with the tines of your fork about an inch and a half, gently working the seedling up until it is out. Then, replant the seedling in its individual pot.
Keep the seedling's potting medium moist, but not wet, by spraying the soil with your spray bottle. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 65 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring (after the danger of frost has passed), when you can transplant it to its new home.

Propagating Papaver by Division
This type of propagation is relatively simple; you will need a clean shovel, mulch, fresh soil (any kind will do, though it does need to be well-draining), compost and pots (only necessary if you will be saving divided plants for transporting elsewhere). Division is best done in late summertime (after the plant has bloomed and become dormant), and needs to be done every 3-4 years regardless of whether you have the goal of propagating the plants for best performance, especially if they are grown in containers. To propagate by division, follow these steps:

Using a shovel, dig up your existing plant. Start from the outside and work your way in to avoid damaging the root(s). Once you have worked it up out of the ground, lay it out.
Start to tease apart the roots with your gloved fingers. Once the roots are untangled, separate your plant into segments, ensuring that each one has at least one thick root section attached.
Prepare your pot(s) or new planting site(s) with amended, well-draining soil. You can either bring in new soil or simply amend your existing soil with compost to complete this task. Then, plant your divisions and water thoroughly.
Apply a thick layer of mulch over the new planting to protect it from cold weather as it acclimates to its new home. Then, enjoy watching it sprout in the next growing season.