Poppy: sowing, care & propagation

The native poppy is increasingly appearing again in fields and along roadsides. We introduce different types of poppy and give tips on sowing and caring for corn poppies.

The corn poppy (Papaver rhoeas) is also known as silk poppy because of its thin, paper-like petals. We present a portrait of the wild poppy and popular varieties and give you tips on cultivation in the garden and in pots.

Corn poppy: flowering time, characteristics and origin

The corn poppy, also known as the corn poppy or fire poppy, belongs to the poppy family (Papaveraceae) and, like all its relatives, produces a white milky sap that is used in the event of injuries exit. Corn poppy is one of the four species of poppy that is native to us and is found in the wild, preferably on embankments, arable land and dry meadows. Originally the species probably comes from the temperate latitudes of Eurasia, however, due to the global distribution of the poppy as an arable herb, no more details can be said. In the past, however, the petals were used to make red ink. The corn poppy got its name because its flowers clap together in storms and winds.

Corn poppy is not a perennial plant, but an annual to biennial. It usually germinates anew every year from the seeds of the previous year's plants, which die in autumn when they are ready for seeds. The wild poppy grows to a height of 40 to 70 cm. Corn poppy leaves are rough and covered with coarse hairs. Their shape is lanceolate to pinnate with partly sharply serrated leaf sections. Soon after germination in spring, numerous flower stalks form on the thin, hairy and sparsely branched stems. The flowering time of the corn poppy is between May and July. Poppy flowers are ephemeral creatures, however, because they usually only bloom for one to three days - then the colored petals fall off and the elongated seed pod of the poppy appears. Many insects love corn poppies because they provide a lot of pollen. Especially bees (Apis) wallow in the stamens of the poppy and like to visit the flowers. In late summer from August onwards, the numerous seeds inside ripen and take on the typical gray-blue color of poppy seeds. As it ripens, the capsule reveals small openings under the capsule roof and the ripe seeds can be thrown out by movement or wind.

Is the poppy a nature reserve? The poppy is not under nature protection, but for a long time it was hardly to be found in fields due to the broad spectrum pesticides. However, due to the stricter, more targeted and reduced use of pesticides, the poppy is increasingly found again today.

The most beautiful corn poppy varieties

Corn poppy is mainly known as a field wildflower, but there are also different colored and partly double varieties. It is important to know, however, that poppies made from seeds usually do not show themselves uniformly, so that different color mixtures can occur despite the same variety name.

• ‘Amazing Gray‘: Anniversary variety 2020 for the 125th anniversary of the Thysanotus seed trade with the most unusual color for poppy seeds: gray-violet to light gray-blue tones in all nuances. This is how the 40 - 50 cm high appears Papaver rhoeas ’Amazing Gray’ is particularly attractive in combination with pure white or black flowering plants.
• ‘Angels Choir’: Poppy mixture of double flowers reminiscent of tissue paper in different shades of red, purple and pink. The poppy plants of this variety reach heights of around 70 cm.
• ‘Bridal White’: Pure white flowering poppy variety with large, simple flowers and yellow stamens. The variety becomes about 50 cm high and flowers from June.

• ‘Mother of Pearl’: Historic corn poppy variety from England with a mixture of simple, white to washed-out pastel shades of pink, pink and gray-violet. The plants reach heights of 50 - 70 cm.
• "Pandora": Elegant-looking, semi-double poppy variety in exquisite pink tones with silver-gray stripes. Poppies of the ‘Pandora variety reach a height of around 70 cm.
• ‘Pierrot’: Red poppy variety with a black spot on each of the petals. The variety reaches a stature height of 50 to 60 cm.
• ‘Shirley Double’: Mixture of about 60 cm high poppies with a double flower envelope in red and pink tones, also with white parts.

Sow and plant poppies

The poppy is a light germinator. This means that in addition to water and heat, the seeds only need a very thin or no cover of soil to germinate. The optimal location for corn poppies is in warm, dry and sunny locations with well drained and nutrient-rich soils. Since the small corn poppy seedlings hardly ever survive being moved, the poppy seeds should be sown directly on the spot. Corn poppies are sown broadly in spring between March and May at a suitable location in the bed. The area should be weed-free, the soil should be loosened beforehand and the seedbed prepared finely. The seeds should not or only a few millimeters be covered with soil. Careful watering of the seeds is usually sufficient to ensure good soil contact for germination.

Poppy in the pot: You can also sow poppies on the balcony. A planter with a size of at least 5 liters with good water drainage is prepared for this. An approximately 5 cm high drainage layer made of sand, expanded clay or gravel also prevents waterlogging in the pot. The pot is now made with a high-quality potting soil, like ours Plantura organic universal soil, filled up. The substart is lightly compacted and then the poppy seeds are sown on it. After sowing, water carefully so as not to flood the tender seeds.

Proper care of poppies: watering, cutting, etc.

Once sown, the poppy requires little attention. If the seeds germinate too closely, they can be pricked out. The most important maintenance measure is regular watering, especially in the seedling phase and with potted plants. In most cases, fertilization is not necessary. Cut the corn poppy to remove dead stems, the plant will produce more young buds and the flowering period will be longer. Also, if you want to prevent the poppies from spilling, cut out the seed heads before they are ripe. For the vase as a cut flower, you should not cut open flowers, but rather the buds. In this way, the poppy first blooms in water and lasts longer.

Propagate poppies

The easiest way to propagate poppies is to use the numerous seeds they produce. After successful pollination, the seed pods begin to grow and mature over the summer. From August to September the plants and their capsules turn brown and increasingly dry up. You can tell that the poppy seeds are ready for harvest as follows: Inside the capsule can be heard rattling when moving, the capsule has opened and is therefore ready for the Distribution. Now the whole seed pods can be harvested and dried in the house for a few days. Then you can let the seeds trickle out and keep them dry, cool and dark until the next sowing. Poppy seeds can germinate well for around three to five years.

Effect and ingredients

In the past, the leaves of the poppy were used in the form of soothing teas. The dried flower petals were also used in folk medicine. They contain very small amounts of alkaloids, especially rhoeadin, which are similar to the much more effective opioids of the opium poppy (Papaver somniferum) were used for pain, restlessness and sleep disorders.

Is corn poppy poisonous?

Corn poppy is a poisonous wild plant, especially the milky sap contains the poisonous alkaloids in high concentrations. Therefore, the corn poppy is poisonous to dogs, horses and other animals that feed on it. Roasted seeds and petals of the corn poppy are edible and harmless in small quantities. They have a slightly nutty taste and can be used as a tasty decoration in pastries or salads, for example. However, excessive consumption can lead to gastrointestinal complaints, nausea and abdominal pain.

Drying and preserving poppies

Poppies do not dry well as a whole, because after a short time in the vase all the petals will fall off. One possibility is to press the plants together with their flowers and thus to dry them. Only plants that opened their flowers on the same day should be used for this. The seed heads, on the other hand, can be dried very well; as soon as they have turned brown, they can be harvested with or without the stem and dried at room temperature. The long-lasting seed pods can be used in decorative arrangements and wreaths.

the Chickweed (Stellaria media), like the poppy, are often found in fields and roadsides, but also in vegetable patches. We reveal how to recognize the edible weed and how it is best used in the kitchen.