Poppy, Black Peony
A fully double poppy in maroon so dark it looks almost black. Best where the evening sun shines through it.
Growing
- annual
- Full sun
- Fall, or early spring
- Not covered
- 14 to 21 days at 18°C (65°F)
- Sprinkle thinly
- 91 to 122 cm (36 to 48 in)
- 46 cm (18 in)
- Benefits from support
- 80 to 90 days
A fully double poppy in a red so dark it looks black until light shines through it. Plant it where the evening sun comes from behind. It flowers for a couple of weeks in midsummer, then makes pods that dry well. All seven of my poppies grew in one bed, and poppies cross, so this seed came off a Black Peony plant rather than an isolated patch. Most will look like the parent and a few will take after the others. Pull out any paler ones if you want to keep it dark. Poppy seed is tiny, so a packet is one level 1/16 teaspoon pinch spoon.
Sowing and starting
Sow where you want it to grow. Poppies don't like being moved, so skip the seed trays. Loosen the top of the soil, scatter the seed and don't cover it. I sprinkle mine on top and let the rain settle it in. Water gently if there's no rain. I sow in both fall and early spring, and both work. It comes up in 14 to 21 days at around 18°C (65°F). Some sources say it needs a cold spell first, but growers who have tested it say dry stored seed comes up fine without one.
The seed is almost dust. Mix a pinch with dry sand before you scatter it, so it spreads evenly and you can see where it lands. Keep the surface damp until the seedlings show, then thin to about 30 cm (12 in) apart. A crowded plant makes a stem too thin to hold a heavy double flower.
Care
Full sun and ordinary soil. Don't overwater once it's growing. It grows 91 to 122 cm (36 to 48 in) tall and flowers 80 to 90 days from sowing. The double flowers hold rain, so a sheltered spot helps. Watch the seedlings for slugs.
Saving the seed
Let the pods dry on the plant until they rattle and the little windows under the top open. Then tip the seed into a bowl. The dark colour mostly holds, with the odd paler or single flower. Pull those before they set seed to keep the batch dark.
Worth knowing
- It self sows freely. Leave a couple of pods to shatter and you will have poppies there for years.