Hungarian Blue Poppy is a stunning heirloom cultivar of Papaver somniferum prized for its ethereal blue flowers that bloom from spring through summer. Growing 24 to 36 inches tall with a delicate 10-inch spread, this variety reaches full bloom approximately 98 days from seed, rewarding patient gardeners with weeks of captivating color. Deer leave it untouched, and pollinators flock to its nectar, making it a garden showstopper that thrives in full sun with moderate water.
1
Full Sun
Moderate
3-8
36in H x 10in W
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High
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This heirloom poppy produces flowers in a rare and haunting blue shade that seems almost unreal in the garden. The plant's willingness to self-seed and its deer resistance mean once established, it returns year after year with minimal fussing. At nearly three feet tall, it commands attention in the landscape without overwhelming neighboring plants, and its lightweight, airy stems create movement and grace that few flowers can match.
Hungarian Blue Poppy is grown primarily as an ornamental flower, valued for its delicate blue blooms in cut-flower arrangements and garden displays. Its long vase life and distinctive color make it sought after by gardeners who appreciate unusual flower varieties for bouquets and seasonal floral designs.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Sow seeds in pots 6 to 8 weeks before your last spring frost. Cover seeds lightly with vermiculite or use a humidity dome, and maintain temperatures of 65 to 70°F until germination occurs (expect sprouts in 5 to 20 days). Once sprouted, move seedlings to a cooler location of 50 to 60°F to prevent legginess. Handle seedlings with extreme care during transplanting, as poppies strongly resist root disturbance and can fail if roughly handled.
Harden off seedlings gradually by exposing them to outdoor conditions for increasing periods over 7 to 10 days before planting. Transplant outdoors after the last spring frost when soil is workable, spacing plants 1 inch apart. Choose a location with full sun and well-draining soil.
Direct sow seeds outdoors approximately 4 weeks before your last spring frost, or in late autumn for zones 8 and warmer. Mix seed with fine sand and scatter thinly over prepared soil. Surface sow or cover very lightly, as seeds require light to germinate. Keep soil consistently moist until seedlings are established.
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