Blooming poppies in captivating shades of pink, orange, red, and white transform your garden. Learn the essential tips for their care.

In the captivating world of gardening, poppies have become a favourite among many enthusiasts. These vibrant and resilient flowers, with their diverse range of colours and sizes, offer a delightful addition to any garden.

The Icelandic poppy, with its light green leaves and large bowl-shaped, satiny flowers, is a popular choice for cut flowers. Known for their longevity, these poppies often self-seed, ensuring their return year after year. They come in shades of cream, yellow, salmon, orange, pink, and red, making them a versatile choice for any garden.

Moving towards the oriental poppy, Papaver orientale, the main distribution areas are the temperate regions of western and southern Asia. Their habitats are typically mountainous and rocky landscapes in these regions. One notable variety, Papaver orientale 'Beauty of Livermere', boasts shiny, blood-red flowers that are 20cm wide on tall stems.

Papaver somniferum, also known as the opium poppy, has variable flowers, ranging from white to deep purple in the wild. A popular variety, Papaver somniferum 'Cherry Glow', features deep-scarlet petals with a polished surface and smoky blotches at its base. Another attractive option is Papaver somniferum 'Lauren's Grape', which produces single, bowl-shaped deep purple flowers up to 10cm wide.

For those seeking a more compact poppy, Papaver nudicaule offers a range of options. The Gartenzwerg Group produces flowers in a range of reds, pinks, yellows, oranges, and white. The Pulcinella Series, in particular, offers long-lasting, large flowers in vibrant colours, mainly bright oranges and fiery reds. Papaver nudicaule 'Pacino', also known as Papaver miyabeanum 'Pacino', is a neat dome of grey-green foliage on small flower stems.

California poppies, native to North America, are most commonly found in shades of orange but also in pink, red, yellow, or white. These flowers, with their funnel-shaped flowers and feathered, blue-green leaves, do best in poor, well-drained soil, making them ideal for a gravel garden. Despite being short-lived perennials, they are grown as annuals in the UK.

For those interested in purchasing these poppy varieties, several reputable sellers can be found across the UK. Chiltern Seeds in Crowmarsh Battle Barns, 114 Preston Crowmarsh, Wallingford, Oxfordshire OX10 6SL sells Papaver. Similarly, Cotswold Garden Flowers in Sands Lane, Badsey, Evesham, Worcestershire WR11 7EZ and Beth Chatto Gardens in Elmstead Market, Colchester, Essex CO7 7DB also offer a selection of poppies.

Lastly, Papaver rupifragum, a perennial species from southern Spain, has adapted well to northern gardens. It is worth noting that Papaver rhoeas 'Bridal Silk' reliably produces white flowers with the look of crumpled silk, adding a touch of elegance to any garden.

Whether you're a seasoned gardener or a novice, poppies offer a beautiful and resilient addition to any garden. Their diverse range of colours, sizes, and growth habits ensure that there is a poppy to suit every garden and every gardener.

Blooming poppies in captivating shades of pink, orange, red, and white transform your garden. Learn the essential tips for their care.