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Can you identify this poppy?
ranaridibunda
Posts: 2
in Plants
This beautiful flower just grew from a seed that must have just blown into my polytunnel; I took the photo yesterday; in the evening the petals closed up. Please can you identify the variety for me as I'd love to grow it again? Would the seeds come true next year or return to some plainer wild type, or could it be a perennial? I really don't know anything about poppies! Thank you :-)
0
Posts
It's an opium poppy. Papaver somniferum.
Let the seed pod go Brown and the holes at the top open before you collect seed. Store in a paper bag. Scatter next March where you want them to grow. There may be variation, but they usually come true.
They are annuals.
Last edited: 22 July 2016 08:56:10
It looks like Papaver orientale Turkenlouis. This is a perennial plant so it will reappear next year. Unfortunately its seed may not always come true but to increase its numbers you can take root cuttings in autumn or when you get a decent sized clump you can divide the clump in spring.
The glaucous leaves and flower bud would indicate somniferum not orientale which has furry leaves.
Last edited: 22 July 2016 09:01:20
I think it might be Thompson & Morgan's "Burgundy Frills", which is p. somniferum.
See what you think:
http://www.crowders.co.uk/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/l/a/large_1_01404248_papaver_somniferum_burgundy_frills.jpg
This is possibly a closer picture - it seems to be a bit variable if you google for pictures:
http://www.gapphotos.com/images/LargeWebPreview/0213/0213958.jpg
Woah that poppy shouts at you. I'LL BET IT TALKS IN CAPITALS.
Thanks to all of you for replying so promptly (I hadn't checked my post until now ?). The leaves are definitely NOT hairy, but smooth, so I guess it is P. Somniferum and you're right Lou12, it certainly does shout! Thank you also fidgetbones for the instructions on seed collection; I posted this photo on Facebook and fellow allotmenteers are already queueing for seeds! ? I've checked the photos Alina W and to be honest I just don't know; it also looks like Ragged Red. I guess I don't mind too much either way as they're very similar and both the same species so I'll treat accordingly. Thanks again everyone!
Wow how amazing, wish I had one!
Chiltern seeds have some amazing forms of Papaver somniferum. There is even one with extra large pods for the flower arrangers.