Shirley Single Blend Corn Poppy is a charming cultivar of Papaver rhoeas that captures the delicate, papery-petaled beauty these flowers are known for. Rising 24 to 36 inches, these poppies produce single blooms in a blend of soft colors, creating an airy, naturalistic effect in the garden. Direct sown in early spring or fall, they thrive in full sun and deliver the cottage-garden romance that has made corn poppies beloved for generations.
Full Sun
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3-9
36in H x ?in W
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High
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The 'Shirley Single Blend' refers to a strain of corn poppies bred for their refined single flowers and softer color palette compared to the wild species. These flowers maintain the papery, tissue-thin petals and delicate form that make poppies so visually striking, while the blend aspect means you'll get a harmonious mix of colors across your planting. Sown directly into the soil and barely pressed into the surface, they germinate readily and prefer not to be transplanted, making them wonderfully low-fuss for gardeners seeking authentic, old-fashioned poppy charm.
Corn poppies are grown primarily as ornamental flowers for cutting gardens, mixed borders, and naturalized plantings. Their delicate, tissue-paper petals and graceful form make them popular for fresh arrangements, and they self-seed readily in established gardens, returning year after year.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Sow seeds outdoors 4 to 6 weeks before your average last frost date, or as soon as soil can be worked in spring. In mild climates, fall sowing is recommended for bloom the following spring. Press seeds lightly into the soil surface without covering them, as they need light to germinate.
Cut flowers in the early morning or evening when buds are just beginning to open or are fully open but still fresh. Poppies last several days in a vase. For seed saving, allow flowers to fade and the seed pods to mature on the plant until they turn brown and papery, then collect the pods and dry them completely before extracting seeds.
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