Enjoy vivid colors of ruffled and doubled peony poppies on 4′ stems–king’s crimson, midnight violet, purple lilac, shocking pink, and snowflake white. Suitable for fresh cutting, and seed pods are choice for dried arrangements.
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Growth Habit: Upright growth with branching stems with ruffled leaves and 3-4” flowers. Self seeding.
Sun Requirements:Full sun
Soil Preference:Average, moist, well-drained soil
When to Plant:Direct seed in Spring when soil can be worked
How to Plant: Direct sow seeds on the soil surface and lightly tamp them lightly covering with soil. Keep the seedbed moist. Seeds should germinate in 21-28 days. Thin to 6-12” apart when true leaves appear.
When to Harvest:Harvest fresh flowers in early Summer and seed heads in late Summer.
How to Harvest: For fresh arrangements, harvest when buds are swollen and showing colour. Sear end of stems with a flame. Cut flowers last 2-4 days. Gather the dried seed heads in late summer for decorative dried flower arrangements. Harvest the seeds for culinary uses.
Uses:Poppy is a beautiful, though short-lived, cut flower. Seed heads are also beautiful in dried arrangements. Poppy seeds are edible, high in calcium and have many culinary uses.
