Papaver somniferum (Opium Poppy)

Why Should I Grow Opium Poppy?

Growing Papaver somniferum, also known as the opium poppy, can add a touch of distinctive beauty to your garden. Here are a few reasons why you should consider growing it:

Aesthetically Pleasing: The opium poppy’s large, vibrant flowers can be a striking addition to any garden. Its blooms come in a range of colors, and the ornamental seed pods create visual interest even after the flowers have faded.

Easy to Grow: These poppies are easy to grow from seeds and are quite hardy. They’re adaptable to a range of soil conditions, though they prefer well-drained soil. Once established, they can tolerate dry conditions.

Attract Pollinators: Opium poppies are great for attracting bees to your garden, which can help in the pollination of other plants.

Edible Seeds: While the plant itself is toxic, the seeds are not. They’re often used in baking and can add a delightful crunch and subtle flavor to bread, cakes, and pastries.

Deer and Rabbit Resistant: The toxicity of opium poppies usually deters deer and rabbits, which can be a boon if these animals often visit your garden.

However, it’s crucial to note that while growing opium poppies as ornamental plants is legal in many areas, cultivating them for the purpose of producing opium and its derivatives is illegal in many jurisdictions. Always check local regulations if you’re unsure.

Garden Design With Opium Poppy

Incorporating opium poppies into your garden design can create a visually captivating space. Here are some suggestions on how to do this:

Mixed Borders: Opium poppies can add a burst of color to your mixed borders. The striking flowers can act as the ‘star performers’ among other perennials, and their large, ornamental seed pods provide continued interest even after the flowers have faded.

Cottage Gardens: Poppies are classic cottage garden plants. Mix them with other traditional cottage garden plants like roses, lavender, and delphiniums for a casual, charming look.

Wildflower Gardens: Poppies have a natural look that suits wildflower gardens perfectly. Scatter the seeds among other wildflowers for a meadow-like effect.

Contrast with Foliage Plants: The vivid blooms of the opium poppy stand out beautifully against the dark green or silver foliage of other plants.

Containers: Opium poppies also do well in containers. You could create a stunning display by planting a group of poppies in a large pot.

Pollinator Gardens: Bees are attracted to opium poppies, making them a great choice for a pollinator garden.

Companion Plants

When choosing companion plants for the opium poppy, consider plants that complement its vibrant flowers and preference for full sun and well-drained soil. Here are some suggestions:

Alliums: The bold spherical flower heads of alliums contrast beautifully with the large, cup-shaped poppy flowers, and they both enjoy similar growing conditions.

Salvia: The spike-like flowers of salvia, particularly the blue or purple varieties, can create a beautiful color contrast with poppies.

Lavender: The silvery foliage and purple blooms of lavender make a stunning pairing with poppies. Plus, lavender’s mounding growth habit can help fill in the space left when poppies go dormant in summer.

Ornamental Grasses: The soft, feathery plumes and arching leaves of ornamental grasses like blue fescue or switchgrass provide a pleasing contrast to the bold blooms of the poppy.

Delphiniums: These tall, spiky flowers complement the shape of poppy blooms and their cool blue tones provide a striking contrast to the warm hues of poppies.

Roses: Roses, especially shrub roses, make a wonderful companion to opium poppies. They provide continuous color and interest after poppies have finished blooming.

Phlomis russeliana (Turkish sage): Known for its unique architectural form and tiered whorls of yellow flowers, this hardy plant can add a distinct backdrop to the poppies’ vibrant colors. The Phlomis’ sage-green leaves contrast beautifully with the opium poppy’s silvery-green foliage, and its later bloom period can help fill in the gaps when the poppies have finished flowering.

Geranium (Cranesbill): Geraniums, particularly hardy geranium varieties, can provide a stunning contrast to opium poppies with their delicately cut leaves and a wide range of flower colors. Geraniums have a sprawling growth habit that can help to cover the bare soil left behind after poppies have gone dormant. Also, their blooming period often overlaps with that of poppies, creating a striking visual display.

Stipa tenuissima (Mexican feather grass): This ornamental grass is well-known for its fine, hair-like foliage and light, feathery seed heads. Its graceful, flowing growth habit provides a perfect contrast to the more upright form of opium poppies. Moreover, Stipa’s year-round interest can help maintain visual appeal in the garden even when the poppies are not in bloom.

Remember, it’s crucial to consider the needs of all your plants to ensure they’ll thrive together. Opium poppies prefer full sun and well-drained soil, and while they can tolerate dry conditions, they’ll look their best with consistent moisture.

Growing Tips

Growing opium poppies can be a rewarding experience as they produce such a beautiful display of flowers. Here are some steps on how to grow them:

Choosing the Location: Select a location that gets full sun or light shade. Opium poppies prefer a light, well-draining soil. They can tolerate poor soil conditions but won’t do as well in heavy clay or overly soggy soils.

Preparing the Soil: Prepare your garden bed by removing any weeds or stones and loosening the soil with a garden fork or tiller. If your soil is heavy clay or sand, you might want to add some organic matter like compost to improve its texture and fertility.

Planting the Seeds: Scatter the seeds directly onto the soil surface in late fall or early spring. They need light to germinate, so don’t cover them with soil. Water the area gently so as not to wash away the seeds.

Watering: Keep the soil evenly moist until the seeds germinate, which should happen within a couple of weeks.

Thinning: Once the seedlings are a few inches tall, thin them out so that they’re spaced about 10-12 inches (25-30 cm) apart. Opium poppies don’t transplant well, so it’s best to thin them by snipping at the base with scissors.

Caring for the Plants: Water the plants regularly, but avoid overwatering. Poppies are fairly drought-tolerant once established. They don’t generally need fertilizing, but if your soil is very poor, you could give them a light feed in early spring.

Harvesting the Seeds: If you want to collect seeds for next year, allow some flowers to fade and form seed pods. Once the pods dry out, you can collect the seeds inside.

Pests and Diseases: No serious pest or disease issues. Keep an eye out for aphids and downy mildew.

Remember that while it’s legal to grow opium poppies as ornamental plants in many places, it’s illegal to process them into opium. Always check your local laws if you’re unsure.

Finally, please note that opium poppies can be toxic if ingested, so be mindful if you have children or pets.