Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Shirley Poppy Mixed






Botanical name: Papaver rhoeas (Papaveraceae)
Other name: Shirley Poppy Single Mix

Description
A hardy annual native to Europe, but has been naturalized throughout the United States. These annual poppies are among the easiest flowers to grow. These delightfully scented flowers come in brilliant shades of scarlet, pale pink, salmon, rose and white. The two to three inch flowers come in single form. Ideal for cutting bed, border, wildflower meadows. Shirley Poppies make excellent cut flowers. Cut them just before they open, and sear the bottom of the stems over an open flame.


How to grow
Poppy seeds are very tiny. If you plan to broadcast them, they should be sown thinly, and this is sometimes easier if you mix the seeds with sand. In colder zones (3-7) sprinkle the seeds outdoors in late fall. They don't need to be covered. They will germinate in the spring when the ground thaws. Seeds can also be sown in the spring. In warmer zones, seeds will germinate in fall and you'll have blossoms in late winter.

Height in inches: 24-36"
Spread: 8-12 inches for beds and borders
Germination: 10-30 days
Soil Temp. for Germination: 60-70F
Sowing Depth: Surface sow. These seeds are very small.
Blooming Season: Spring/Summer
Light: Full sun & light
Soil: well-drained soil with not too fertile.
Flower color: scarlet, pale pink, salmon, rose and white.

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