Poppy

The History of the Poppy

As we’ve seen, the poppy has a rich history, outranking most flowers by a landslide. Not only are these blooms incredibly popular and ridiculously beautiful, but they are also well known for their use in the highly addictive drug, opium. Other drugs such as codeine and morphine are also a product of the lovely poppies.

However, the big money-maker, and the reason why poppies are so valuable to the medical community are their use as a painkiller. Products made from the poppy plant have made it one of the most famous flowers throughout history.

The earliest references to actually using poppies are from the ancient land of Sumer. Sumer was located in lower Mesopotamia, now Iraq and Kuwait. Historians believe that Sumerians grew poppy way back in 3,400 B.C.E. and cultivated the blooms for their medicinal and recreational use. In fact, art from the Sumerian region features poppy seed pods in the hands of many Sumerian rulers.

As they utilized the plant, word began to spread quickly to other cultures and civilizations. As word spread, demand began to increase, and it wasn’t long before cross-continent trading of the poppy began. Beginning in Assyria and Ancient Egypt, the poppy eventually became one of the most important and profitable products being transported on the Silk Road that spread across Asia.

The poppy has a substantial war-related history as well. The Opium Wars, perhaps the most significant event in human history caused by a plant, are a considerable part of the poppy’s history.

Following a trading dispute between Great Britain and China, the British began smuggling opium into China for a massive profit. Just under 40 years later, there were over 10 million Chinese opium addicts. Thus, China eventually retaliated against the British resulting in a naval war between the two.

A second war ensued beginning in 1856, with France teaming up with the British to fight against China. And all because of a plant, wild!

Our beautifully vibrant poppies are also commonly known as Remembrance Poppies.

Why might you ask?

Well, during World War I, a battle called the Flanders in France was underway. After the fighting ceased, shallow graves dug and filled, red poppies began to flower in mass amounts in the freshly churned soil.

For all of you poetry fans out there, the blooming of these poppies inspired one of the most famous poems of the era: “In Flanders Field.” Written by a Canadian soldier and poet in the spring of 1915, it quickly became one of the most well-known poems from World War I. A few years later, a woman from the United States vowed to always wear a red poppy as a sign of remembrance for those whose lives were lost in battle. This tradition still prevails today as a sign of respect for the fallen. [4]

The poppy is an ancient flowering plant that has been long desired by gardeners. While their summer flowers may be fleeting, they will make an outstandingly beautiful addition to your garden throughout the months of May and June.

The most popular blooms to grow are oriental poppies. They contain hairy stems and foliage and their petals can be ruffled, crimped, or a bit shaggy, ranging in color from white, pink, purple, and red. They usually will measure about 15 centimeters across.

Some other popular varieties include:

• field poppy (Papaver rhoeas)
• opium poppy (Papaver somniferum)

Most varieties of poppy will thrive in moist yet well-draining soil in full sun. Field poppies and opium poppies will put up with drier, less fruitful soil. Conversely, Himalayan poppies prefer moist, slightly acidic soil and partial shade.

Larger perennial oriental poppies are perfect for growing in a border, and will flower in May and June. Once the flowers are finished blooming, however, the foliage will also die. Don’t fret! The foliage will hit a second wind of life in August. Plant these larger blooms along with low-growing perennials, such as geraniums, to fill the gap in July when the foliage dies back.

Annual poppy seeds should be well-sown on prepared ground. Be sure to take any precautionary steps to keep the birds away from the seeds during germination.

The ideal time to plant poppies would be in the springtime, particularly if you’re looking to plant oriental and Himalayan poppies.

Dig a hole for planting and add in some well-rotted organic matter. Remove the plant from its pot and place it in the hole to match the depth of its pot. Fill the hole back up with soil and water well!

Annual and biennial poppies are usually grown from a seed and should be sown directly onto prepared soil. To prepare your soil, remove any weeds, and rake the ground until it is level. Water the soil with a fine spray of water and then scatter the seeds. Sow your poppy seeds in the spring, early summer, or autumn. [6]

Now onto how you should care for your newly grown poppies!

Annual poppies are actually quite easy to care for. No need to stake or deadhead your plants, just let them do their thing! They will flower and seed all on their own! Once the flowers have faded and the seeds have been released, all you need to do is pull up the plants and add them to your compost. Be sure to shake out your poppies over the planting site after pulling them out of the ground to release any stubborn seeds that were not released by the plant.

Oriental poppies support their large flowers on hardy fuzzy stems. They may require a bit of extra support to keep their heads held high and remain upright. Your blooms will last about 10 days, but the plants will have a second round of blooms if they are cut back. Try and prevent your oriental poppies from setting seed as this will reduce the amount of energy they have to produce their second round of flowers.

Himalayan poppies will also require staking and deadheading. Cut back your plants to ground level in the autumn and mulch them with compost, leaf mold, or bark chippings in either the fall or spring. [6]

Pro Tip: Feed your annual poppies monthly with a liquid plant food during the summertime to help increase flowering! 

Water your perennial poppies such as orientals well during their first year of life whenever the weather is dry. In subsequent years, watering during prolonged dry periods may be needed to keep your blooms in tip-top shape.

When caring for cut poppies, keep in mind that these blooms have a sap that seals off the ends so they can retain moisture. Keep your cut flowers in a bucket of cool water immediately after clipping and move them to a dark space away from bright sun or breezy drafts. Think of these blooms as the Mr. Woodhouse of cut flowers. (Any Jane Austen fans in the house?) Poppies are incredibly sensitive to cold drafts and will be very susceptible to dramatic changes in temperature or strong breezes.

Let your poppies rest for about eight hours. Then cut the stems to their desired length and remove any extra leaves. Dip them into a just-boiled pot of water to seal the stems once again. [7]