About
This erect annual about 75-90cm tall, with oblong, downy light green leaves to 15cm long, and solitary, bright scarlet, bowl-shaped flowers, sometimes marked black at the petal bases, produced in summer, on short downy stalks.
About the genus
Papaver can be annuals, biennials or herbaceous perennials with simple or pinnately divided leaves and short-lived, saucer-shaped, 4-petalled flowers which may be solitary or in racemes
Growing conditions
SunlightFull sun
Soil typeChalk, Loam, Sand
Soil pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moistureWell-drained
AspectSouth-facing, West-facing
ExposureExposed, Sheltered
UK hardinessH7
Plant details
Plant typeAnnual Biennial
HabitClump forming
FoliageDeciduous
Height0.5-1 metres
Spread0.1-0.5 metres
Time to full height1-2 years
Suggested usesWildlife gardens, Wildflower meadow, Coastal, Cottage and informal garden, Gravel garden
Native toEurope, N Africa, W Asia
Care notes
CultivationGrow in any well-drained fertile soil in full sun
PruningNo pruning required
PropagationPropagate by seed
Pest resistanceMay be susceptible to aphids
Disease resistanceMay be susceptible to downy mildews, powdery mildews, fungal wilts and verticillium wilt