The flamboyant beauty that is the Red Field Poppy, Papaver rhoeas, forever linked to remembrance, bursts into bloom from mid-summer. Those deliciously rich red, tissue thin petals dancing in the breeze above the surrounding plants are the nations favourite wildflower and attract bees and other pollinators. In the wild, poppy seed can lie dormant for many years, often germinating in large numbers when the soil is disturbed by ploughing. In the garden, raking the soil each autumn will help them the seed germinate for the following year. Once very common across the British Isles on both cultivated and waste ground, Red Field Poppies have become less frequent in farmland due to widespread herbicide use and improved seed cleaning methods. 🌸 Flowering: June - August 📏 Height: 20 to 60cm 🌿 Annual SOW & GROW: surface sow sparingly from late summer through to early spring. The seed needs winter cold to break dormancy naturally. Make sure seed is in good contact with moist soil, gently firming the surface. For self sown plants to return in future years, rake the area lightly each autumn to disturb and redistribute seed. 📌USES Wildlife-friendly • A native species providing abundant pollen • Attracts bumble bees and honey bee • The solitary Poppy Mason bee (Hoplitis papaveris), use the pollen for food and the petals to line its nest. • Hoverflies feed on the pollen and their larvae help control aphids Edible • The seeds are safe to eat and have been used in cooking for thousands of years • Commonly used in breads, cakes and curries Cut Flower • Cut in bud just as they are beginning to open and before the petals unfurl • Sear the stems by dipping into boiling water for 5-10 seconds or into a flame briefly. This prevents the sap from draining into the vase and slows wilting • The ornamental seed pods are perfect for dried arrangements 🏡 In your garden Often thought of as a meadow or cornfield flower, Red Field Poppy needs regular disturbance to germinate and is not suited to established meadows. Give it space and disturbance and it will thrive in gravel gardens, prairie style planting, sunny borders, and informal or cottage gardens. Rake yearly or reseed each autumn to keep it coming back.
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