Many suggest a brief period of cold stratification before planting to improve germination rates. Growers in cooler climates can sow the seeds as soon as the soil can be worked in the spring. For those with hot and humid spring and summer weather, direct sowing in fall may produce the best results. As a cool season annual flower, these plants prefer to grow and bloom while temperatures are mild. Before planting, growers need to consider their climate. This easy to grow flower is an ideal choice for ornamental gardeners of all skill levels. In more modern times, red poppies still remain symbolic of the sacrifice that many men and women have made and are synonymous with the Memorial Day holiday in the United States.

Historically, these poppies first became popularized by Lieutenant Colonel John McRae’s poem, “In Flanders Fields,” which makes reference to World War I. When picked at the correct time, Shirley poppies can also make lasting cut flowers in floral arrangements.Īmong the most noted varieties of this type of poppy is the American Legion cultivar, which produces intense red flowers. Delicate, paper-thin petals are highly ornamental, especially when they’re used in mass or naturalized plantings across fields or wildflower meadows. Shirley Poppy InfoĪlso known as Papaver rhoeas, Shirley poppies come in a wide range of both vibrant and muted colors. One particular type of annual has been especially popular with visitors to the garden: the Shirley poppy. As the weather starts to warm, the tiny plants burst into life, eventually flowering before many others have even been planted. With their ability to withstand periods of cold and frost, these plants are often the first to begin blooming each spring. Hardy annual flowers are among my absolute favorites to grow.

Shirley poppy seedlings