Flanders Poppy
(Field Poppy, Shirley Poppy)
Papaver rhoeas. PAPAVERACEAE.
Planting and Growing Flanders Poppy
You’ll find everything you need to know to plant and grow Flanders poppy in the accompanying table’s tabs:
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- Flowers, foliage, and root structure of Flanders poppy
- Plant hardiness and growing conditions for Flanders poppy
- Season of bloom and planting time for Flanders poppy
- When, how deep, and where to plant Flanders poppy
- How to plant Flanders poppy
- Watering, fertilizing, care, and pests or diseases of Flanders poppy
- Landscape and container uses of Flanders poppy
- Comments about Flanders poppy and its features
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Growing Flanders Poppy
Many cultivars of erect, branching annual herbs, to 3 ft. (90 cm) tall, with hairy stems. Shiny, hairy, bright green, divided, feathery leaves, to 6 in. (15 cm) long.
Planting and Care Guide
Blooms
Showy, solitary or paired, pink, purple, red, white, often bicolored, saucerlike, single- or double-petaled flowers, 2–3 in. (50–75 mm) wide, with crepe-paper-like petals, in late spring–early summer.
Best Climates
Plant as tender annual, zones 2–4; self-seeding, zones 5–10.
Soil Type and Fertility
Moist to damp, well-drained, sandy soil. Fertility: Rich–average. 6.5–7.0 pH.
Where and How to Plant
Early spring, zones 2–7; autumn or early spring, zones 8–10, in full sun, 1 ft. (30 cm) apart. Tolerates mild frosts. Plant successions every 3–4 weeks to prolong bloom.
Proper Care
Easy. Keep damp; allow soil surface to dry between waterings. Fertilize every 2 months. Deadhead spent flowers to prolong bloom. Protect from wind. Propagate by seed.
About This Plant
Good choice for beds, borders, massed plantings in cottage, meadow, natural gardens. Good for cutting; sear stems over flame after cutting. Aphid and blight susceptible.
Warning:
Seed of Papaver rhoeas are hazardous if eaten. Avoid planting in areas frequented by pets or children. Flanders poppy is a prohibited plant in some governmental jurisdictions.