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Papaver Somniferum Poppies – Mauve Form

4/1/2015

Papaver Somniferum Poppy Seeds Mauve Form

There is a fantastic range of Papaver somniferum poppies available to brighten gardens with, from small and delicate flowers to frilled and double petal blooms that add real decadence to any garden setting. One of the fantastic newer varieties available is that of Mauve Form, a stunning little Breadseed poppy of pink and pale lavender hues.

With four beautiful petals, Mauve Form offers a bright and colorful bloom which is soft pink and has pale lavender spots are the center. A pale green stamen center and yellow pollen grains are perfect for setting off the colors of this gorgeous poppy. Ideal for any number of garden settings Mauve Form is as at home in a Cottage Garden as it is a chic palette of pastels, or an intense mixture of hot pinks and tropical tones.

Like all other Papaver somniferum varieties, Mauve Form is an annual, offering the great benefit of a poppy plant which grows incredibly quickly and produces blooms the same year that it is sown. Flower stalks will rise into the air, offering a beautiful show of flowers, and after the petals fall, Mauve Form reveals the stunning flower head of its architectural seed pod. Also known as the Florist poppy, this can be left in place to add some intrigue to winter borders, or removed and used in fantastic flower arrangements.

One of the best ways to use Mauve Form is alongside other colors in the pastel shades such as pure whites and soft blues. And by using this fantastic plant in your garden you can ensure that there are a beautiful number of delicate blooms to inspire and attract any guests who visit.

To find out more about this beautiful specimen and other poppy seeds that are available to buy, visit One Stop Poppy Shoppe.

Papaver Somniferum Poppy - Album

3/3/2015

Poppies are loved around the world and with such a great range of varieties on offer there is always a type to suit your requirements. Papaver somniferum poppies in particular are a great specimen to have in your garden because they grow quickly and easily whilst offering a multitude of blooms throughout the summer. And for a stunning flower which will easily fit into all garden settings, Papaver somniferum Album is perfect.

Papaver somniferum Album

Whatever your planting scheme may be, highlights or background colors of white work extremely well. Poppy variety Album therefore works extremely well in these surroundings, offering crisp and clean white petals to really draw the eye. This gorgeous variety of poppy has single ice white petals surrounding a pale green center, and is a tremendous plant to incorporate into gardens.

An annual variety of poppy Album can be suited to many gardens, especially those using a pale palette. Cottage gardens and natural feeling locations are ideal for this soft poppy whose petals will add a splash of the purest white to displays. Meanwhile, it also works well in sophisticated garden displays, offering the perfect contrast flower to set other deeply hued plants against.

Album also has the benefit of being part of the Papaver somniferum family, meaning that it produces a huge amount of seeds and also has a stunning seed head for flower arranging or to catch winter frosts and snow to stunning effect. And if you’re looking for a gorgeous and crisp white bloom, then Album is perfect.

To find out more about Album and other Papaver somniferum varieties visit One Stop Poppy Shoppe .

Papaver Somniferum Seeds - 5 Tips To get Your Poppy Seeds Growing

2/4/2015

Organic Zahir Papaver somniferum Poppy Seeds

The 5 most important tips for growing Papaver somniferum seeds are:

1. Plant directly into the garden in very early spring or late fall.

2. Do not bury the seed. Simply scatter them onto the soil, then firm the soil by walking on it.

3. Do not use any form of chemical pesticides, fertilizers or weed suppressors.

4. Give plenty of moisture until the seedlings are 6-10 inches tall.

5. Always use a snail/slug bait. This can be purchased at your local home center. They are safe for pets and humans. For organic gardens, use jar lids with beer in them as an attractant. That will fix those little varmints!

For more info please visit One Stop Poppy Shoppe .

Wild Flower Meadow Planting with Papaver Somniferum

1/7/2015

Wildflower Meadow (source: Wikimedia Commons)

For many people gardening is confined to strict borders and neatly cut flowerbeds. However, if you prefer a more natural setting you might like to set aside a patch of your garden as a wild flower meadow. These little natural inspired oases can look as stunning as any perfected ornamental border, and by including Papaver somniferum varieties you can ensure that your meadow has beautiful flowers for a little color.

When you think of wild flower meadows the traditional corn poppy is often thought of. Whilst this isn't a Papaver somniferum species itself you can easily create a similar scene by utilizing the somniferum variety Bright Red in your planting scheme. Meanwhile, to create a wild flower meadow with a difference, you can use a range of the Papaver somniferum colors available including whites, purples and pinks.

The first year of your wild flower meadow you'll have to sow plants yourself, a method which may not give as natural design as you'd wish. However, by scattering seeds across the meadow and allowing them to germinate naturally, you can get the best effect possible. In consequent years specimens of poppies will sow themselves, allowing for a truly natural planting scheme to form.

Creating a wild flower meadow is a great way to use a space in your garden that can be carefully maintained to look as natural as possible. And by using Papaver somniferum varieties as part of the planting plan you will ensure beautiful color dancing amongst the rising grasses as the year progresses.

For more advice and to buy Papaver somniferum seeds visit One Stop Poppy Shoppe .

Creating Drought Tolerant Gardens with Papaver Somniferum

12/11/2014

When you think of drought tolerant gardens the first plants that may spring to mind are succulents and cacti, along with other plant species more accustomed to growing in a desert. Whilst there are many great gardens created along these planting concepts, making a drought tolerant garden doesn’t necessarily involve only using these plant types. And one group of plants that you could consider if you want to create a garden which requires less water is that of the Papaver somniferum.

Grey/Green somniferum leaves (source: Wikimedia Commons)

Many plants which are suitable for drought tolerant planting are those with grey leaves. Papaver somniferum species have grey green leaves which not only help reflect the light (ideal if you want to brighten up darker spaces) but also help them cope with drier conditions than many other plants can survive in. They therefore can be safely used if you want to bring color and flower to dry patches of gardens or entire outside retreats which are more suitable for drier climates.

Not only saving you both time and money on sprinkler systems or hand watering, using Papaver somniferum species will ensure that your garden remains a rich and thriving oasis throughout the year. Many traditional desert plants are slow to grow and rare to flower, making gardens often quite flowerless. In addition, succulents in particular can be ground hugging plants, not offering much structural appeal to horticultural spaces. But by ensuring that you use a fantastic range of poppies you can bring color and vibrancy to even the most drought tolerant of gardens.

To find poppies for your own drought tolerant garden, visit One Stop Poppy Shoppe .

Papaver Somniferum Poppy - Pink Dawn

11/12/2014

Papaver somniferum Pink Dawn

Papaver somniferum poppies come in a huge array of varieties and can offer you an enormous number of options for you garden. Flowers differ in size, hue, and petal texture, allowing you to create a stunning collection of these wonderful poppies. Papaver somniferum, also known as Breadseed poppies, can also be used alongside other garden plants to great appeal because there is always a variety which will fit with your garden palette.

If you’re looking for a beautiful pink and soft bloom, then you need look no further than the lovely variety of Pink Dawn. One of the best pink varieties in the Breadseed poppy family, Pink Dawn has all the iconic traits of the poppy, whilst offering an elegance which surpasses many other forms. Large flowers of rose pink can add a touch of elegance to any garden, and with dark burgundy spots at each petals base this variety’s fantastic color is set off to even more appeal.

Pink Dawn is ideal if you have a garden with a pale pastel palette or are looking to create a stunning female inspired scene utilizing pinks and whites. Whilst other garden plants will come and go through the season you will always be able to use Pink Dawn to fill spots and areas which may not have flowers at certain times of year. And with this stunning variety producing a multitude of seeds at the end of the season you’ll always be able to include new Pink Dawn flowers in your garden beds and borders.

To browse Pink Dawn poppy seeds and seed a huge range of other Papaver somniferum varieties, visit One Stop Poppy Shoppe .

Why Poppies Are Perfect For Garden Amateurs

9/3/2014

Papaver Somniferum Poppy Seeds - Fire and Snow

Everyone has to start out somewhere, and whether you’re taking up a new hobby or a new job, it’s great to get off on a positive track. There’s nothing worse than starting to explore a new passion only to fail, an experience which will often prevent you from trying again. For this reason poppies are absolutely wonderful for starter gardeners. They are easy to grow, will thrive in most settings, and reward just a tiny amount of care with an abundance of color through the summer season.

While some poppy varieties, specifically those in the Meconopsis family, can be hard to grow, most poppies are incredibly easy. California and Papaver somniferum plants in particular will thrive in some of the poorest of soil types. They also provide lots of blooms and garden interest throughout the year, transforming any dull garden into a vibrant oasis. Seeds germinate readily, whether started in pots or simply scattered straight into a garden, and little care is needed other than watering to ensure that plants grow up large and strong. And with a huge range of Papaver somniferum varieties on offer you can always find a color perfect for your taste.

If you want to start gardening with a plant which is easy to grow and will reward you with beautiful blooms then poppies are ideal. And with these wonderful poppies easily creating a thriving mass of cheering blooms for you to enjoy through the months, you will see your passion for gardening growing alongside your plants.

If you want to discover more about poppy seeds and purchase the perfect variety for your garden head over to One Stop Poppy Shoppe .

Natural Gardening with Papaver Somniferum

5/14/2014

Papaver somniferum Hot Pink

Gardening can be a funny hobby when you looking at its fundamentals. Many gardeners will spend hours weeding out natural flowers and weeds only to replace them with domesticated and hybridized varieties of the very plants that have been removed. If you are attempting to mimic Mother Nature in your garden weeding can become even more bizarre, as you’re actually removing the steps made by nature to create the most natural planting scheme possible.

Of course, gardening is all about the removal of weeds and the incorporation of plants that we love into beautifully laid out garden schemes. However, perhaps its best to leave little established seedlings and give them a chance sometimes?

Using Papaver somniferum poppies in this way can be fantastic, and you’ll soon discover just how hardy these beautiful specimens can be. Growing seeds where you’ve carefully planted and nourished them is a very rewarding experience, but there can also be a rewarding surprise in finding a little self sown plant forging its own way in the world. You don’t quite know how it got there, how it will grow, what color it will be, and there is something extraordinarily special in that.

So, next time you’re gardening and find a few Papaver somniferum seeds which have germinated themselves in interesting places, don’t weed them out, let them grow. Especially in a non-formal garden this can be a great way of discovering surprises in even the most well managed to gardens. And whether you just leave a couple of plants or dozens, they’ll quickly thank you for your kindness.

To start using Papaver somniferum plants in your garden visit One Stop Poppy Shoppe. Here you'll find an amazing range of seeds perfect for firing a passion.

Poppy Flower Seeds – Late Planting for Papaver Somniferum

5/7/2014

Papaver somniferum Poppy Seeds - Queens

Growing poppy flower seeds is a interesting and enjoyable hobby and you can easily germinate seeds at home. Some of the best times to propagate new plants is in the early fall or spring. Sowing in the fall allows you to get a few healthy plants ready for the next season, offering early blooms and color before many other plants may have developed. Meanwhile, spring is the traditional time to plant poppy flower seeds, with the warmer weather bringing poppies to life very quickly. However, you can plant Papaver somniferum seeds right up until the early summer, so don’t despair if you’ve forgotten to get your seeds going.

One of the main reasons for planting poppy seeds at specific times is to ensure that plants have enough time to mature and flower before the frosts come. Spring therefore is an ideal time, providing several months of growth before poppy flower seeds mature and start producing blooms for the summer months. However, you can still put seeds in during late May to early June. This will provide a few months for plants to mature and produce blooms and, weather permitting, you could enjoy flowers until the early Autumn.

If you have forgotten to plant your poppy seeds then don’t worry and get them in as soon as possible. Hot weather and warm soil will ensure that your young seedlings grow quickly. And even if your flowering season is cut a little short, sowing poppy flower seeds in May and June is better than not having any poppies at all. So, head to One Stop Poppy Shoppe, buy some seeds, and get planting!

Using Papaver Somniferum Poppies for Flower Arranging

3/3/2014

Poppy Seed Head (source: Wikimedia Commons)

Papaver somniferum poppies have a fantastic range of uses in the garden. They are, first and foremost, a stunning plant which will fill your garden with color. Having been highly hybridized over the years you can find some stunning varieties with unique and interesting petal shapes, colors, and size. However, these poppy plants are also known as Breadseed poppies due to their seeds being perfect for culinary use. And finally, they are also known as the Florist poppy as they are perfect to incorporate into flower arranging.

After Papaver somniferum poppies flower they will begin to set seed and lose their petals. It is at this time that a beautiful and architectural seed head is revealed. Bursting with seed, these seed heads are perfect for flower arranging as they give added interest when used amongst other flowers and foliage.

When cutting the seed heads for flower arranging, ensure that you allow a long enough stem so that it can easily be pushed into the foam blocks used to secure leaves and flowers. It is also very important that the seed heads are dry so that they don’t develop mould which will quickly be spread to neighboring specimens in the flower arrangement. You can easily dry stems out by placing them on a hot windowsill on top of some blotting paper or kitchen towel which will help absorb any moisture. Alternatively, you can use an oven on a low heat and place the seed head inside for five to ten minutes, drawing the moisture out of the plant.

There are so many uses for Papaver somniferum poppies that they make an ideal garden plant. And by using their seed pods for flower arranging you can ensure that plants continue to thrill long after the petals have fallen.

Find a great range of poppy seeds at One Stop Poppy Shoppe