Poppy 'Black Peony'

Black Peony Poppy (Papaver somniferum Paeoniiflorum Group)

Introduce dramatic elegance to your garden with our Black Peony Poppy! This upright annual boasts exceptionally large, fully double flowers, often reaching an impressive four to five inches across. Each ravishing bloom is densely packed with beautifully crumpled petals in shades of deep purple to nearly black, creating a truly opulent display that lasts for weeks in summer. These magnificent flowers sit atop stout stems, adorned with distinctive heart-shaped, silvery-blue leaves. Following the blooms, decorative seed pods emerge, providing continued visual interest in the garden or perfect for elegant dried flower arrangements. Prepare for a striking "colour punch" in your beds and borders!

DETAILS:

 QTY: 100

TYPE: Annual; Self-sowing
 
SITE: Full sun

DEPTH: Surface; Do not cover

GERMINATION: 14-21 days at 16-18°C

HEIGHT: 2 - 3'

MATURITY: 80 - 90 Days

SPACING: 9 - 12"

PINCH: No

HOW TO GROW:

Direct seed (recommended): Sow seeds directly outdoors in late fall or early spring when there is still a chance of frost or light snow. Poppies generally do not transplant well due to their delicate root systems. Gently rake the tiny seeds into the soil surface; do not bury them as they need light to germinate. Water gently after sowing.

Transplanting (alternative, use caution): If you choose to start seeds indoors, sow them into compostable pots (like peat or coir pots) 6-8 weeks before your last expected frost. This minimizes root disturbance during transplanting. The seeds are very small, so bottom watering is recommended until seedlings emerge to avoid washing them away. Harden off seedlings for 7-10 days before transplanting the entire biodegradable pot into the garden after all danger of frost is past.

Soil Preference: Poppies thrive in full sun and prefer well-drained soil. They are not particularly fussy about soil fertility and can tolerate average to poor soils. Avoid heavy, waterlogged soils, which can lead to root rot.

Watering: Keep the soil consistently moist during the germination period and while seedlings are establishing. Once mature, poppies are relatively drought-tolerant. Water them deeply but infrequently, allowing the soil to dry out slightly between waterings. Avoid overhead watering, which can damage delicate blooms.

Fertilizing: Poppies generally do not require much fertilizer. In fact, too much nitrogen can lead to lush foliage at the expense of blooms. If your soil is very poor, you can amend it with a small amount of compost before planting. No additional fertilizing is typically needed once plants are established.

Self-Seeding: Although most common poppies (e.g., Shirley Poppies, California Poppies) are annuals, they readily self-seed in favorable conditions, often giving the appearance of perennial growth in subsequent years.