You can visit our Papaver somniferum page or browse the pictures using the next and previous links. If you've been inspired take a look at the Papaver plants in our garden centre.

Poppy - huge doubles mixed

By Jennyfer

Poppy - huge doubles mixed (Papaver somniferum (Opium poppy))

6 Jul, 2010
3 likes

Not entirely sure its an opium poppy, but thats my best guess. Grown from a packet of TM seeds bought when i was very little, which had been opened so only 4 germinated,

(one fell over - i didn't realise they needed to be staked, another was slugged (but appears to have survived and is growing back) and the other is only a few inches high and was the runt of the litter)

when i sowed them this spring. The fat buds were temping me for days outside the kitchen window and then it opened and looked simply stunning. I was also suprised to see bees attacking it on the first morning but never since (that i've noticed), i'm hoping to save the seeds and see what comes out of them next year.

I especially love the way the petals look a little crimson around the edges where the light passes through them