Garden Gnome Iceland Poppy

Light Needs

Partial Shade to Full Sun

(At Least 3 Hours of Direct Sunlight)

Mature Height

6-18 Inches

Mature Spread

1 Foot

Growing Zones

2 to 8

If you are looking for a brilliant blooming perennial to add to a bed or container, the Garden Gnome Iceland Poppy is for you. The petals have a slight crinkle texture and look like they are made from crepe paper. The two-inch blooms are scarlet, yellow, or orange and surround a soft yellow eye and exposed stamens. This beauty, also known as Papaver nudicaule 'Garden Gnome,' starts to bloom in late April and will continue to display flowers until the frost. The flowers grow on tall stems that are somewhat hairy and are complemented by blue-green foliage around the base of the plant.

This plant is excellent in borders, mass plantings, containers, and as a cut flower. Iceland Poppies do best in areas that have cold winters. Something about a chilly winter ensures this stunner will be ready to go come spring, and the blooms will keep coming all summer. The Iceland Poppy plant is deer-resistant and grows as a perennial in USDA zones 2 through 8.

Garden Gnome Iceland Poppy Care

Plant Iceland Poppies in full sun to partial shade. This plant will bloom more prolifically with full sun, but it will still do very well in partial shade. Soggy soil is perhaps the biggest challenge when growing Poppies. Water only when the top couple of inches of soil are dry and use well-draining soil. The soil should also be rich, and it will help if it has a neutral pH. When it is time to water, apply water to the ground around the plant and try to keep the delicate foliage dry to prevent damage.

Remove spent flowers to keep this plant looking good and promote new blooms. Garden Gnome Iceland Poppy will benefit from routine feeding, so apply balanced fertilizer with a ratio like 20-20-20 every few weeks.  

Garden Gnome Iceland Poppy Spacing

The Garden Gnome Iceland Poppy is an upright plant that is shorter than other Poppy varieties but just as beautiful. The blooms stand 10 to 12 inches tall, and the plant spreads 12 to 18 inches. Space plants as close as 12 to 16 inches apart to create a full and consistent planting.