Poppies 1 to 11 of 11 total
Poppies 1 to 11 of 11 total
Poppies
Uses:
- Border Plant
- Specimen or Focal Point
- Use as Container Thriller
Features:
- Cut Flowers
- Deer/Rabbit Resistant
- Attracts Pollinators
Sunlight:
- Full Sun
- 6+ Hours of Direct Sun
Growing Zones:
- 3-9
- What is My Zone?
Oriental poppies are known for their large flowers in shades of red, orange, pink, and white and bloom in late spring to early summer. They are perfect for mixed borders, cottage gardens, or as eye-catching specimen plants, where their papery blooms can create a striking focal point.
About Poppies
Genus
Papaver
Species
250+
Family
Papaveraceae
Common Names:
Common poppy, corn rose, field poppy, Flanders poppy, red poppy, and Odai
Native To:
Greenland, Europe, Northern Africa, Asia, and North and South America, depending on species
Plant Type:
Perennials
Foliage Type:
Herbaceous
USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
4-9
Flower Color:
White, red, orange, cream, yellow, blue, purple
Flower Bloom Time:
Spring to summer
Growth Habit:
Erect
Attracts:
Bees
Tolerates
Drought
Resists:
Deer
How To Use Poppies In The Garden
Poppies display delicate, papery petals in a variety of colors from translucent whites to deep purples. The flowers emerge from ferny foliage, offering ephemeral color and intricate seed pods that sustain birds. Cold-hardy Iceland types and drought-adapted California varieties allow broad cultivation across USDA zones. Their taproots excel in poor soils where other ornamentals falter.
Poppies can act as focal points in mixed borders or cottage gardens, drawing attention with their colorful blooms. Incorporate them as transient anchors in wildflower meadows, their self-seeding nature creating annual surprises amidst grasses and perennials. Use taller Oriental varieties as backdrops in sunny borders, or nestle dwarf cultivars in rockeries for contrast against stone. For cut arrangements, harvest bud-stage stems and sear milky sap to prolong vase life.
Poppies Care
Plant container-grown poppies in early spring during cooler weather. For seeds, sowing in the fall allows for natural stratification, promoting robust germination come spring. Newly planted poppies require consistent moisture until they establish, but once mature, they need watering only during prolonged dry spells. Fertilization is minimal; apply a light mulch of organic compost over the root zone annually.
Deadheading spent blooms encourages further flowering, instead of seed production. Beyond removing faded flowers, additional pruning isn't necessary. In winter, perennial poppies die back to the ground, requiring no special care. Grow smaller varieties, like California poppies, in containers to add bold color to mixed plantings. Use a general-purpose potting mix without added fertilizers, and allow the soil to dry between waterings.
Learn More About Poppies
Poppies Companion Plants
Give poppies partners that love six‑plus hours of sun, soil that drains freely yet stays lightly moist, and only modest nutrition. Oakleaf hydrangea supplies broad foliage and midsummer bracts that frame the gauzy poppy petals without stealing their light, while sky‑tinted larkspur (delphiniums) shoot elegant spires through the poppy canopy for a layered, cottage‑garden effect. Mounded spirea keeps pollinators busy in the same pastel register. After the poppy show fades, airy lobelia fill the gaps with long‑season color so the border never loses its rhythm.
