Poppy Flower

Poppy and opium, always in news, generally for the wrong reasons. But a gardener knows how to take the richness of this vibrantly colored flower and turn it to its advantage. Considered as a 'common cornfield weed', the poppy, today, is the most popular garden flower grown in flower beds or in many lined pots.

Native to Asia, poppy flowers can be single or double petaled. The single colored poppy is four or five petaled. The flowers come in a wide color palate; white, pink, salmon, purple, yellow, orange, red, purple and blue with dark center markings. Each flower contains both; pistil and stigma, female parts and clusters of long, thin stamens, the male part. With over 120 species of both annual and perennial varieties, these flowers can be grown abundantly for a long period of time.

Poppy Flower Meaning: Rich in symbolism, these flowers have long been used as a symbol of sleep and death, and consolation and eternal life. They have been used as emblems on tombstones to symbolize eternal sleep for many years now. This myth has been depicted in the fictional movie The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, where the magical poppy fields cause those who pass through them to sleep eternally.

The corn poppy has been metaphorically mentioned in the John McCrae's poem, In Flanders Fields, as a symbol for fallen soldiers since World War I. The flowers are used to honor the dead in both England and Australia. The golden yellow colored California poppy, Eschscholzia californica became the state flower of California in 1903.

Poppy Seeds: The poppy seed is harvested from dried seed pods found on the wilted flowers' stems. Each pod contains over a hundred kidney-haped tiny black-gray seeds. The seeds have many uses, besides being a means of propagation. Seed availability is not really a problem for most species within the poppy family.

Poppy flowers are grown for both illegal and legal trade purposes. The fields of Afghanistan are used for weapon funding through poppy opium trade, while the seeds have medicinal value to aid sleeping and treat insomnia. Ancient civilizations have used poppy seeds to promote fertility. Not all poppy seeds are used for medicinal purposes, some have culinary uses too. They are used to make a paste for gravies, baking or roasted as garnish for salads and desserts. Poppy seeds are also used as bird feed, and for oil extraction. Use poppy seeds to make some really yummy meals.

Growing Poppy Flowers: The flower is easily grown and looks excellent for mass bedding. They are grown through tiny seeds which should be mixed with sand for more even distribution. Sprinkle on moist soil, lightly rake the soil and cover the soil with newspaper keeping the beds moist until germination occurs, that would be within a week or so. Acclimatize seedlings to sunlight and transplant when they reach a four leaf stage. As poppy plants grow about two feet, space them about 5-8 inches apart. Fertilize once in a month, during its summer bloom period. Keep shearing wilted flowers, but hold on to a few for the seed pod. Keep the bed weed free. And, enjoy the blooms!

A mass bedding of poppy in varied colors or a single pot each will exude charm and beauty and add to the essence of your garden.