West Coast Seeds
West Coast Seeds (Shirley Double Mix)
West Coast Seeds (Shirley Double Mix)
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Papaver rhoeas. Vivid red, pink, salmon, and white blooms come in singles and doubles atop 80cm (31") stems. Sow Shirley Double Mix poppy seeds at two week intervals from late February to mid-April for flowers from mid- to late summer. These poppies will self sow, and they look spectacular in mass plantings. All parts of the plant are mildly toxic, and acrid enough that they avoid damage from grazing deer. The flowers have a very delicate appearance, but the plants are actually quite tough. If you sear the cut end right away with a match, these poppies will last quite a long time as cut flowers. Rely on Shirley Double to self sow without becoming weedy.
| Latin Name |
Papaver nudicaule (perennial), P. rhoeas & P. somniferum (both annual) |
| Difficulty | Easy |
| Exposure |
Full sun to partial shade |
| Timing |
Start perennial poppies outdoors in early spring, when some chance of frost is still a possibility. Start annual varieties outdoors at the same time in Zones 3-7. In Zones 8-10, the best bet is to direct sow in the fall. |
| Starting |
Sow on the surface of the soil, or barely cover seeds. Thin to a minimum of 15cm (6″) apart. |
| Growing |
Poppies are easy to grow and the self-sow with abandon, without becoming weedy. Simply pull up unwanted plants (an easy task) before they bloom, or better yet, let them tell you where they want to grow. They will thrive for years at a time in surprising spots, like a crack in the driveway. Other times, they simply won’t take, no matter how much you try. Keep them moderately well watered in hot, dry weather, and do not fertilize. |
