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Poppy - Peony 'Purple'
Poppy - Peony 'Purple'
Seed Packet

Poppy - Peony 'Purple'

Papaver paeoniflorum
The symbol of sleep and death, but also of fertility, opium poppies traveled with humans throughout history. These purple and lavender peony poppies are particularly striking with their full-throated flowering, featuring giant globes of gathered petals atop smooth blue-green stems and jagged leaves. Once the flowers have fallen in a cascade of petals, the decorative seed pods remain, adding interest and color to winter arrangements.
SKU #S688
$3.25
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Details
Approximate Seeds Per Packet
672
Lifecycle
Annual
Annual Hardiness
Hardy Annual
Mature Size
2-3' h x 10" w
Sun
Full sun
Soil
Rich, moist, well-drained
Season
Spring to summer
Color
Deep lavender
Features
Great Cut Flower
Deer Resistant
Attracts Bees
SOWING INSTRUCTIONS
Depth:
Surface sow; requires light to germinate
Sprout Time:
5-20 days
Seed To Bloom:
14 weeks
Starting Indoors:
Sow in pots 6-8 weeks before last frost, cover lightly with vermiculite or a humidity dome and keep at 65-70°F until germination, then at 50-60°F. Be very gentle when transplanting, as poppies do not like to be disturbed.
Starting Outdoors:
Recommended. Direct sow 4 weeks before last spring frost or in late autumn (autumn only in zones 8+) Mix seed with fine sand and scatter thinly over prepared soil to avoid overcrowded seedlings.
WHEN TO SET OUTSIDE
At last spring frost date.
PLACEMENT & CULTIVATION
The voluptuous flowers of peony poppies are beautiful and blowsy early summer bloomers. Grow in their ancestral home, the cottage garden, where they should be staked early with an underpinning of twiggy brush or bamboo stakes to help hold up the heavy-headed flowers. Space well apart to allow the plants to develop strong bushy growth and allow a few to self-sow. A cool-season flower.
Final Spacing:
1'
Water Requirements:
Medium Water Use
Watering Details:
These plants prefer evenly moist soil, but can tolerate drought. About an inch of water per week.
Soil pH:
Slightly acidic to neutral—if soil is acidic, add some lime before planting.
Fertilizer:
Mix in 2" inches of compost prior to planting.
Diseases & Pests:
Fungal diseases can be prevented by regularly spraying with organic fungicides and spacing at least 1' apart for good air circulation. If slugs and snails damage seedlings, sprinkle the surrounding soil with pelletized iron phosphate, crushed eggshells, or diatomaceous earth.
When to Cut for Bouquets:
Decorative dried seed pods.