Shirley Poppy
Corn Poppy (Papaver rhoeas) is the classic red poppy immortalized in European wildflower meadows, a frost-hardy open-pollinated flower that reaches 12-24 inches tall and produces cut flowers within 55-65 days of sowing. This is no delicate greenhouse flower; it thrives when direct seeded as soon as soil can be worked in spring, preferring cool temperatures between 50-70°F for germination. Though categorized botanically as a vegetable, it's grown for its brilliant blooms and naturalization potential, not for eating. Plant it in clusters of 6-inch spacing in soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.5, and you'll have armfuls of ephemeral flowers that last 2-4 days in a vase.
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24in H x ?in W
Annual
Moderate
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The Corn Poppy rewards direct seeding in spring with remarkably vigorous growth and reliable flowering. Its delicate taproot demands careful handling; transplanting is not recommended because the roots resent disturbance, making direct sowing the key to success. Pick buds when they're visibly swollen and showing color, sear the stem ends immediately, and you'll have cut flowers that bring that romantic European meadow feeling indoors for several days.
Corn Poppy flowers are grown for cutting and for naturalizing in wildflower meadows and informal garden spaces. They're chosen by gardeners who want to recreate that lush, spontaneous European countryside look, where poppies seed themselves generously among other plantings.
Direct seed as soon as soil can be worked in spring. Plant seeds 1/4 inch deep; they require darkness to germinate. Germination occurs best between 50-70°F.
For cut flowers, harvest when buds are swollen and showing color rather than waiting for them to fully open. Immediately sear the cut stem ends to extend vase life. Expect cut flowers to last 2-4 days in water.
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“Papaver rhoeas has long been the signature poppy of European agricultural landscapes, flourishing among grain crops where its vivid red petals became woven into the region's visual and cultural identity. This variety, preserved and offered by Johnny's Selected Seeds as the classic red poppy seen in fields throughout Europe, carries forward that heritage of wildflower abundance.”