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Poppies Poppies have a long history of cultivation as a plant, starting in Mesopotamia in 5000 BC and continuing on to this day. Early on in its history, the use of Opium Poppies (Papaver Somniferum) for its sedative and analgesic effects had begun. This trend would continue throughout history, the poppies seen as both as a miracle medicine and demonized for its addictive properties. However, it is only the Opium Poppy that is known in this regard. As long as the history of poppies for medicinal use is the cultivation of the poppy plant for its beauty. There are a wide variety of other plants known as poppies, some of which are not true “poppies” botanically. Botanically, only those known as “Papaver” are technically poppies. Among the many mistakenly named “poppies” are the Prickly Poppy, the Oriental Poppy and the Blue Nepal Poppy. All three belong to other genus and are thus not true poppies. Poppies (those of the Papaver variety) are frost tolerant and grow best in cool weather and soil. This gives rise to the common practice of sowing the seeds in Autumn before the first frost to allow the seeds to germinate in Spring. Otherwise, to give the Poppies sufficient time to grow, poppy seeds should be sown as early as the ground is workable in the spring. Seeds should be placed on the ground with a fine layer of soil covering them and kept moist. Germination occurs in 10 to 15 days. When the poppies are about 1 inch tall, thin them out to aid growth. Shortly afterwards, they can be transplanted and set in the ground so the crown is just even with the surface. Unless the summer is very hot and dry, poppies do not require supplementary water or fertilizer. Pests or diseases seldom bother poppies. Some of the more common problems encountered when growing poppies include aphids that attack young plants in bud and a downy mildew. Remove aphids with a hard spray of water. Avoid over-watering the poppies and allow plenty of air circulation around the poppies to discourage fungal growth. Poppies are known for their ability to quickly populate the area where they’ve been planted. Poppies are not considered invasive however since they are easily removed. The poppy flower in art The poppy flower has been the inspiration for many artists and one of the most famous paintings is Claude Monet's "Poppy Fields at Argenteuil" (1873). More recently Nottinghamshire artist Yvonne Kirk has produced her own interpretation of the poppy. In dried floral decorations, poppies are highly prized for their oval pods. Helping to bring difference and life to any arrangement, the poppy pods come in a variety of sizes from small (below 1cm in diameter) to large (nearly 7.5 inches or the size of a golf ball). These dried poppies are naturally burnished and come in a variety of colors as well from the natural brown to purple to silver. It is no surprise that poppies are highly sought after when arrangements are conducted, the poppies often becoming the centerpiece in weddings, banquets and other festive occasions.

User Name:     Password:     Super Giganthemums Our highly popular, seasonal Super Giganthemums are back in stock. We only have a limited supply of these popular poppy pods until the next drying season in August. These are the largest and most beautiful pods we have seen in a while. Poppy Information Want to know more about poppies? Then take a look at our poppies information pages.