The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
The common poppy (Papaver rhoeas) is anannual wildflowercharacterized by striking red blooms.
The common poppy typicallyflowers in late springthrough early summer.
They also work well in garden beds, cottage gardens, borders, and pollinator gardens.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
Note that all parts of the poppy plant are toxic to dogs and cats.
Deadheadingthe spent flowers regularly throughout the blooming period can help extend the bloom, but this is optional.
Choose a bright, sunny location to grow the common poppy and enjoy its gorgeous blooms for months.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
Light
The common poppy prefersfull sunconditions with at least 6 hours of direct sunlight.
Water
Once established, the common poppy has minimal water needs.
Too much water can result in leggy, overgrown stems.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
However, in extended periods of drought supplemental watering can help extend bloom times.
Temperature and Humidity
The common poppy is an annual wildflower that grows well inUSDA zones1 through 10.
To balance out thesoil pHand encourage blooms, amending the soil with a phosphorus-rich fertilizer can be beneficial.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
For summer blooms, sow seeds in the early spring once the ground has thawed.
Cover the sown seeds with a light dusting of topsoil.
The flowers don’t have much of a fragrance; they are prized for their exuberant colors.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
In full shade, poppies will be less likely to bloom.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
