Danish Flag offers large, bold, single red blooms with feathered petals, each one marked by a striking white cross at the centre. It is not a flower to be overlooked, either in the summer garden or in a vase. The eye catching flowers sit above silvery foliage and look especially good planted as a drift.
This is a Papaver somniferum, also known as an opium poppy. After flowering, the plants produce handsome seed pods which are highly ornamental. The seeds inside are edible and widely used in baking. An easy plant to grow that makes a big impact.
🌸 Flowering: June to August
📏 Height: 50-75cm
🌿Annual
SOW & GROW: there are three good ways to grow Danish Flag.
Sow directly into prepared ground where the plants are to flower from March to June. Cover the seed lightly. Germination usually takes around three weeks and temperatures of about 15 to 18°C give the best results.
For an earlier start, sow indoors from February onto damp compost. Cover lightly with vermiculite and provide gentle warmth. Pot on as seedlings grow, then harden off and plant out once all danger of frost has passed.
Alternatively, sow outdoors from August to November and protect young plants with cloches over winter. These will flower from late spring.
Thin or space plants to between 20 and 50 cm apart so they have room to develop properly.
ENJOY: a real spectacle in the garden. For cutting, pick stems while still in bud and sear the ends with a match or dip briefly in boiling water for about 20 seconds. Place straight into clean, fresh water to help the flowers last longer. The seed pods are excellent in arrangements, or allow them to dry and collect the seeds for use in the kitchen.
🏡 In your garden
Danish Flag suits many garden styles, from courtyard and cottage gardens to informal borders, gravel gardens, prairie planting and wildflower meadows.
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