Poppy flowers  

Poppies are in the Papaver genus, and the family Papaveraceae.  There is about 90 species.  Some poppies are annuals, some are biennials, and some are perennials.  They are native to temperate and subtropical regions of Eurasia, North Africa, and western North America.  There is also a few species in alpine or artic areas.

The leaves on poppies can look fernlike, toothed, or lobed.  The poppy blooms can be orange, purple, shades of red, yellow and white.  The flowers have four to six petals, and two sepals.  In double varieties have more.  Poppies usually contain a milky juice.  In the center of the bloom, there are many stamens that surround the ovary.  The ovary will later ripen to form a capsule that contains many seeds.  

Many species of poppies are cultivated for their foliage as well as their flowers.  The most popular perennial poppy is the oriental poppy.  Its leaves are fernlike.  The flowers are about six inches wide.  Iceland poppies are also popular perennials.  Their blooms are about four inches wide.  A good variety for the rock garden is the alpine poppy.

Poppy Plants for Sale