Islandic Poppy Artist’s Glory Seeds - Papaver nudicaule

This mix of Icelandic poppies also called Papaver nudicaule Artist's Glory, produces large, single, fragrant, wrinkled flowers in shades of white, yellow, orange or pastel pink that are borne on long, silky stems above light green foliage. These medium-sized plants are ideal for rockeries, pots and cut flowers. Very hardy, this perennial is cultivated as a biennial and flowers in summer. Sowed directly outside, or transplanted when very small, this poppy will not disappoint. It likes cool summers and locations without scorching sunlight and can content itself with mediocre soil.

Papaver nudicaule, also known as Icelandic Poppy, is a low-growing perennial plant of the Papaveraceae family. It is native to the regions of North America and Asia Minor that benefit from cool summers. Its root system is organized around a taproot that grows deep in the soil. Its leaves are arranged in basal rosettes that swell over time, spreading over a maximum width of 20 cm. The elongated leaves are more or less serrated. They are bluish-green and covered with long hairs. The 'Artist's Glory' variety shows a particularly graceful habit, growing in clumps that reach 45 cm high when its crown of vivid, airy flowers appears. Flowering takes place between May and August, depending on the date of sowing. The flower stems are initially swan-necked and then straighten out as the buds burst in bloom. The poppy flowers which are large in proportion to the size of the plant, last for about a week. They come in a variety of colours and attract many pollinating insects. They are followed by elongated fruits which once mature, open on their upper half, releasing many small round seeds into the wind.

Icelandic poppies like cool summers and manage to grow in most barren lands. They enchant flowerbeds where they form soft, bright patches of colour. The 'Artist's Glory' mix is an excellent choice for beds where it brings the charm of the countryside into the garden. Sow them directly in the more informal areas, in the rock garden or in a gravel garden. It will look sublime in the company of ornamental grasses such as Stipa tenuifolia or Mulhenbergia capillaris, catnips, with white Love-in-a-mists, tulips and forget-me-nots. It is also an excellent cut flower.