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About the Author & Content Disclaimer
The advice in this post is based on 10+ years of hands-on experience testing seeds in our sandy Suffolk Garden.
While I love sharing my journey and the things I discover, please understand that I am not a certified professional in gardening or wildlife. I ground my content by deep-diving into reliable books and expert resources, but please use my advice only as a guide for your specific garden.
I use and sell the same UK-sourced, wildlife-approved seeds in my own garden that you see throughout this site. Shop the seeds here.
If you notice any inaccuracies or have additional insights to share, please feel free to contact me via this website's contact forms.
Poppies were one of the first wildflowers I introduced to my garden and I have never looked back. I always have a good display that self seed each year. It's a joy to see the bumblebees and other pollinators enjoying the nectar and pollen. Papaver Rhoeas is also native to the UK.
The Field poppies I sell on my website are annuals, meaning they only last for one year. But they produce thousands of seeds which allows them to self sow every year, you can also collect the seeds to store in a cool dark place until the following spring when you can sow them after the last frosts. They like rich soil but can survive on poor soil.
Papaver rhoeas is a cornfield annual, often found in cornfield meadow seed mixes, they are usually found growing in cultivated arable land and roadside verges. They have scarlet, single flowers, each petal having a black mark at its base which really makes the flower stand out. It is ideal for inclusion in an annual wildflower meadow but also works well when dotted among herbaceous perennials, I tend to put them in both of these settings.
Papaver rhoeas can grow to 90cm in height and have a 30cm spread. They prefer full sun and do well in a south or west facing aspect, although I haven't found them to be that fussy as they grow everywhere in my garden.
The best time to sow their seeds is during March, April and May. If grown in a pot they can be transferred into the ground during May and June. They flower throughout June, July and August.
You can purchase the field poppy (papaver rhoeas) from my online shop - Click here to buy field poppy seeds now
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