Papaver (Annual poppies from seed)

Annual poppies were made for informal settings. Their free and easy style, coupled with silken petals in gorgeous colours, never fails to attract the eye. Once introduced to the garden, they have the pleasing habit of reappearing of their own accord every year. Annual poppy seed can be scattered straight onto moist soil, and very lightly covered over. Choose the sunniest, most freely draining areas for best results. Sown in May when the soil is warm, seed will germinate rapidly. Such small seed is difficult to sow evenly, so when young plants are large enough to handle, it will be necessary to thin them. This method of sowing produces a random and very natural effect so there is also a high chance that young poppy plants may appear unexpectedly in some areas, while choosing not to germinate in others. At times when conditions are perfect for sowing and germinating seeds of your choice, weed seedlings also tend to be prolific and irksome. Some of the smaller poppies are ideal for growing amongst gravel or between paving slabs, but it is best to make sure these areas are thoroughly weeded before scattering seed.

There are some sites in the garden where the perfect, naturalised effect can be achieved by scattering seed directly onto soil, but sometimes it is better to treat poppies like half hardy annuals. Poppies resent any disturbance at their roots, so the trick is to sow a small pinch of seed into individual pots, thinning out the newly germinated plants to a couple of seedlings in each pot. Keep the pots in the greenhouse until the first signs of germination, then move them to a sheltered, sunny spot outside, before finally planting out the young seedlings when they look robust enough to move. It may seem an unnecessary and contrived way to treat poppies, which are, after all, experts at reproducing and spreading copious quantities of seed, but it does allow more scope for planting schemes. Sometimes, a lot of planning and the use of unnatural methods can be involved in achieving that seemingly natural and effortless, hazy blend of cottage garden flowers!

Amongst annual poppies, and annual plants in general, Papaver rhoeas ‘Mother of Pearl’ provides one of the longest, summer displays of misty, intriguing colours. You will never tire of shimmering, crinkled petals in delicate, pastel shades of pink, grey, lilac and dusky purple. Without fail, this variety self-seeds prolifically, returning each year with yet more variations of gentle colour.

Bright red is the colour most commonly associated with the flowers of annual poppies. Papaver commutatum ‘Ladybird’ is one of the most eye-catching at this end of the spectrum. Each crimson petal has a black blotch at the base, and when grown in quantity, this close relative of the corn-field poppy creates a vivid display that also harmonises perfectly with informal surroundings.