Instantly recognized as the poppy, this wide-spread group of about 50 species of annuals and perennials belongs to the Papaveraceae family. Leaves grow from the base of the plant to form rosettes and are usually dark to light green, lobed, and covered in fine hairs. Upright flower stems covered in bristles grow out of the leaf rosettes and hold aloft the nodding bud that develops into the distinctive flower. These are usually 4-petalled, paper-textured, cup-shaped, and occur in shades of white, yellow, orange, pink, or red. The poppy is often associated with war remembrance days, a link attributed to Homer, the eighth-century B.C. Greek poet, who first associated the drooping poppy bud with the form of a dying soldier.
CULTIVATION
Poppies are frost hardy and prefer a sunny position with light, moist, and well-drained soil. Most species are propagated from seed although perennial poppy cultivars are propagated from root cuttings.
Top Tip
Papaver nudicaute, the iceland poppy, is the best species for cut flowers. Pick just a the buds are beginning to open, and singe the ends before placing in water.
CULTIVATION
Poppies are frost hardy and prefer a sunny position with light, moist, and well-drained soil. Most species are propagated from seed although perennial poppy cultivars are propagated from root cuttings.
Top Tip
Papaver nudicaute, the iceland poppy, is the best species for cut flowers. Pick just a the buds are beginning to open, and singe the ends before placing in water.
No comments:
Post a Comment