Poppy 'Flanders Red'
A beautiful rich, red papery bloom, that inspired the WW1 poem ‘In Flanders Fields’ by Lt. Col. John McCrae.
Yates Account
Join now
Create a Yates account today!
Sign up to join the Yates Garden Club for monthly e-mails packed with seasonal inspiration, tips for success & exclusive promotions.
Plus if you’re a Garden Club member you can take part in the Yates Growing Community - a blog to share successes, get advice & win prizes in fun challenges along the way!
Forgot password
Enter the email address associated with your account, and we'll email you a new password.
Poppies (Papaver spp.) are a well known spring flower. They are symbols of remembrance (Flanders Red) as well as a favourite amongst the young and young at heart. Available in a mix of colours and single and double flowers, they are great for mass plantings or in cottage-like gardens.
How to grow poppies in a garden
- Choose a spot in the garden that receives full sun.
- Prepare the planting area well by digging in Yates Dynamic Lifter Organic Plant Food.
- Sow seeds directly where they are to grow by scattering them thinly on top of the soil and barely cover with some Yates Black Magic Seed Raising Mix. Firm down and water with a fine mist spray.
- Water gently and keep moist through germination period.
- Once seedlings are approximately 5 cm, thin out seedlings ensuring that they are a minimum of 20 cm apart. Mulch with an organic mulch, such as bark chips, woodchip or pea straw.
- Feed regularly with Yates Thrive Rose & Flower Granular Plant Food. TIP: For an added boost, apply Yates Thrive Roses & Flowers Liquid Plant Food.
How to grow poppies in a pot
- Choose a pot at least 200 mm wide and deep. Position in full sun and is sheltered from wind.
- Fill the chosen pots with quality potting mix, such as Yates Premium Potting Mix.
- Plant directly into the pot by scattering the seeds thinly on top of the soil, then barely cover with Yates Black Magic Seed Raising Mix. Firm down and water with a fine mist spray.
- Water gently and keep moist through germination period.
- Feed every 1 to 2 weeks with Yates Thrive Roses & Flowers Liquid Plant Food. TIP: For an added boost, apply Yates Thrive Natural Fish & Seaweed+ Plant Food Concentrate.
Poppy 'Shirley Mix'
Large silky single and semi-double blooms, many with picotee edges and colours of salmon, rose-pink, crimson and red.
California Poppy 'Sunshine Mix'
This vivid mix of warm oranges, reds, yellows and whites produces abundant blooms that glow and shimmer in the Sun.
California Poppy 'Gold Rush'
Beautiful silky, fluted flowers in a rich, buttery cream colour. Easy to grow and drought tolerant, they bloom all Summer.
California Poppy 'Thai Silk'
These exquisite ruffled blooms have lustrous, silky, rosy pink petals with touches of cranberry and lemon.
Iceland Poppy 'Artist's Glory'
Glorious late Winter/early Spring blooms of crinkled silk in shades of gold, lemon, apricot and salmon.
Growing tips
- Select the planting site carefully, as these plants dislike root disturbances and do not transplant well.
- Great plant choice for cottage gardens.
- Varieties include:
Flanders Red or Shirley Mixed (P. rhoeas)
Spring flowering plants available in the well known red or salmon and rose pink coloured varieties. Sowing times - temperate climates sow in autumn, cool climates sow in late summer and early autumn.
Iceland Poppy (P. nudicaule)
Late winter blooms to early spring blooms that are available in shades of gold, lemon, apricot and salmon. Sowing times - temperate climates sow in mid-summer and autumn, cool climates sow in mid-summer and early autumn.
California Poppy (Eschscholzia californica)
Spring and summer flowering plants in a mix of pastels, including purple, yellow, red and orange. Sowing times - temperate climates sow in autumn and cool climates, sow in early spring.
More Plants
Hellebores
Hellebores are the moody, gothic jewels of the winter garden. Learn how you can grow them in garden or in pots.
Gardenia
Gardenias have soft scented blooms in white or yellow. Depending on the variety, can be grown as a shrub, standard, hedge or ground cover.
Freesia
Freesias are a spring flowering bulb that produce scented blooms in a range of vibrant colours including pinks, white, yellow, mauve and red.
Flax
Flax (Phormium spp.) are highly versatile plants which can grow well in swampy or dry conditions. Great for large pots or en-masse in garden beds.
Recommended products
Yates Dynamic Lifter Organic Plant Food
Releases nutrients slowly, improves the structure and moisture retention of the soil and encourages earthworms and beneficial soil micro-organisms.
Yates Black Magic Seed Raising Mix
Specially formulated for trouble-free seed raising in trays (or outdoor seed sowing direclty into the ground) and propagation of cuttings.
Yates Thrive Rose & Flower Granular Plant Food
Specially formulated to grow all types of flowers. With high potassium for large & abundant flowers, added calcium & iron for stronger flowers.
Yates Thrive Roses & Flowers Liquid Plant Food
Provides your flowers & roses with the balanced nutrients they require for healthy growth and flower production.
Share
Share this article on social media