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Opium Poppy Purple Peony Seeds - Papaver somniferum

Papaver somniferum Purple Peony
Peony Poppy, Paeony Flowered Poppy

3,9/5
11 reviews
2 reviews
0 reviews
1 reviews
4 reviews

Did not germinate, unlike the other poppies.

Valérie, 04/04/2022

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This plant carries a 6 months recovery warranty

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The extreme doubleness of the flowers and their undefinable hue, a sumptuous mixture, rich with lilac colour tinged with old pink, make this a spectacular and unique annual poppy. They are borne on sturdy stems emerging from a very ornamental, silver-green foliage. This variety is easy to sow directly outside and will thrive in the sun and in light, well-prepared soil.
Flower size
7 cm
Height at maturity
80 cm
Exposure
Sun
Annual / Perennial
Annual
Germination time (days)
15 days
Sowing method
Direct sowing, Sowing under cover
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Sowing period March to April, October
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Flowering time June to August
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Description

The Opium Poppy also called Papaver somniferum 'Purple Peony' is a unique variety. The extreme doubleness of the flowers and their undefinable hue, a simply sumptuous mixture, rich with lilac colour tinged with old pink, make this a spectacular and unique annual poppy. They are borne on sturdy stems emerging from a very ornamental, silver-green foliage. This variety is easy to sow directly outside and will thrive in the sun and in light, well-prepared soil. 

The opium poppy 'Purple Peony' is a horticultural variety, belonging to the Papaveraceae or poppy family. It is derived from Papaver somniferum var. nigrum, which is found in the mountains of Asia, but also in Europe, on limestone soils where poppies usually grow. This plant, which probably originated in the regions between the Mediterranean and Anatolia, has given rise to a multitude of varieties that have long been cultivated for ornamental purposes.

'Purple Peony' displays magnificent, undulating, silvery green foliage with beautifully lobed, elliptical leaves with scalloped margins. From its 30 to 45 cm wide clump of foliage, tall stems sprout up from June to August, bearing irresistible, solitary flowers, 80 cm above the ground. They are very double, being made up of countless petals tightly packed together into a pompom nuanced with shades of mauve, lilac, old pink and crimson. Summer blooms give way to a characteristic fruit, filled with small very ornamental black seeds which take on a slate blue sheen as it dries. Their aspect changes with the light because of the film of crystallized wax that protects their surfaces. Opium poppies have a taproot that is not very resistant to transplanting, so it is best to sow them in place. 

 

Comfortable in sophisticated gardens, in medieval-type gardens and gardens without gardeners, opium poppies make it possible to quickly and effortlessly create oceans of infinitely delicate flowers that seem to dance on the silvery foam of their foliage, creating a stirring spectacle of vivid, dark or pastel colours. Although they are not very long-lasting in bouquets, the flowers of the opium poppy 'Purple Peony' are extremely charming when planted in large groups, in front of tall daisies, the moving strands of grasses or in pots on the patio. This annual plant, like the cosmos, has no equivalent for occupying the open sunny spaces between annuals or large perennials such as Helianthus, whose flowers take over later in the season. 

Once the flowering period is over, the fruit remains providing a precious asset for dry bouquets, but also the poppy straw, which is often perceived in more wild areas as a majestic element of the garden or a somewhat enigmatic remnant of summer.  

Opium Poppy Purple Peony Seeds - Papaver somniferum in pictures

Opium Poppy Purple Peony Seeds - Papaver somniferum (Flowering) Flowering

Flowering

Flower colour purple
Flowering time June to August
Inflorescence Solitary
Flower size 7 cm

Foliage

Foliage persistence Annual
Foliage colour green

Plant habit

Height at maturity 80 cm
Spread at maturity 45 cm
Growth rate fast

Botanical data

Genus

Papaver

Species

somniferum

Cultivar

Purple Peony

Family

Papaveraceae

Other common names

Peony Poppy, Paeony Flowered Poppy

Origin

Cultivar or hybrid

Product reference14551

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Planting and care

Sow opium poppy 'Purple Peony' seeds directly outdoors, in spring or autumn. Choose a location in full sun with fertile, well-drained soil that has been well loosened beforehand. Sow the fine seeds just below the soil's surface, mixing them with sand or a special sowing soil in order to sow more thinly. Water regularly, especially during dry periods. Germination usually takes 15-20 days at 15-20 °C. When the poppy seedlings are sufficiently large enough to be handled, thin them out to 30 cm apart.

Garden poppies should not run out of water or food in the summer. They self-seed freely in the garden. Cut off spent flowers if you wish to avoid spontaneous seedlings. Even if they prefer light, loamy soils, annual poppies are undemanding plants that adapt to most well-prepared soils. Their seeds retain their germinating power for a long time, and it is not uncommon for seedlings to emerge years after a 'failed' sowing as a result of digging up the soil.

Important note: all poppies are poisonous. However, seeds produced by the species P. somniferum and P. paeoniflorum can be eaten. In general, the seeds are used in bakery recipes (breads, cakes...).

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Sowing period

Sowing period March to April, October
Sowing method Direct sowing, Sowing under cover
Germination time (days) 15 days

Intended location

Suitable for Meadow, Rockery
Type of use Border, Slope
Ease of cultivation Beginner
Exposure Sun
Soil pH Neutral, Calcareous
Soil moisture Dry soil, Moist soil, Travaillé en profondeur, sableux
3,9/5

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