Shirley Poppy (Papaver Rhoeas) - The Shirley Poppy comes from Shirley, England, wherein in the 1880s, a local vicar carefully selected and hybridized Poppies in his own wild flower garden. Over many years he obtained a strain of Poppies ranging in colors from white to pale lilac to pink and red, and unlike the wild Poppies, these had no dark blotches at the base of the petals. Over the years, further wildflower Poppy selection has created the semi-double and double forms, as well as flowers with a ring of contrasting color around the edge called the picotee form. Easily grown from Shirley Poppy seeds, gardeners enthusiastically grow this variety for the wonderful display of diverse color and forms.


SOWING
Season: Annual
Height: 12 - 15 inches / 30 - 40 cm
Bloom Season: Summer
Bloom Color: Mix
Environment: Full sun
Soil Type: Loose, well-drained, pH 6.1 - 7.3
Temperature: 12-15C / 55 - 60 F
Average Germ Time: 21 - 28 days
Light Required: Yes
Depth: Do not cover the seed but press into the soil
Moisture: Keep seeds moist until germination
Plant Spacing: 12 inches / 30cm
Directly sow Poppy seeds in early spring before frosts have finished. Shirley Poppies grow best in loose soil that drains well. Press the flower seeds firmly into the soil and keep the soil moist until germination.