The paper-like texture and vibrant colors of poppies is what makes them so beloved by gardeners all over the world. While the red poppy is the most well known poppy that many people will think of, there are a lot of different varieties out there.
Poppies are often seen popping up during spring and summer. These short-lived annuals may not last long after blooming, but they do provide your garden with a pop of color and sometimes a sweet odor.
In this article, we have gathered 14 beautiful types of poppies that we think you may have never seen before.
1. California Poppy
The California poppy, in contrast to oriental poppies, is regularly planted as an annual and completes its life cycle in a single growing season.
These indigenous plants to North America are great for wildflower gardens because of their high level of drought tolerance.
These are considered very low maintenance poppies that are typically disease and pest free. When it rains, or it is overcast or at night, you will notice that the blooms close up. They will then open up once the sun is out again.
California Golden, Mission Bells, and Golden West are among the best varieties of the California poppy.
2. Tallulah Belle Blush Poppy
The Tallulah Belle Blush poppies offer gardeners a completely different type of poppy than they have seen before.
These poppies produce very large blooms, consisting of multiple layers of feather-like petals in different shades of purple and pink. You may have to provide additional support to help the streams lift these large flowers.
This poppy subtype is an annual variant that reportedly does not generate the latex that is used to make opium.
Be careful, nevertheless, that cultivating any type of P. somniferum such as these flowers, may catch the eye of law enforcement organizations in some conservative areas.
3. Himalayan Blue Poppy
The Meconopsis genus includes the Himalayan blue poppy. As the name would suggest, this poppy is native to Western China and the Himalayas.
These plants usually produce large bowl shaped blooms with delicate and bright blue petals. The Himalayan blue poppy will typically bloom during spring to late summer.
It is worth noting that these poppies are considered endangered due to the decline of their natural habitat. If you do try to grow these poppies yourself, be warned that they require cold weather and constant moisture.
4. Black Poppy
Black is to die for gardeners who love the somber trend of black flowers. This plant is well recognized for producing full, peony-like flowers.
Of course, no actual flower contains enough melanin to look entirely black, but on a foggy day, the darkest purple or maroon blossoms can almost appear black.
This is an annual plant, which means it will return to your garden year after year. The maximum height it can reach is around 2 to 3 feet.
5. Patty’s Plum Poppy
Blackberry and juicy cherry tones will appear on the petals of these poppies during the late spring. These flowers are native to northern Iran and Turkey and require full sunlight to grow properly.
The 6-inch blossoms on 30-inch stalks of the Patty’s Plum oriental poppy can withstand mediocre soil and fend off hungry animals.
Despite self-seeding, it’s possible that the new seedlings won’t yield the desired purple blossoms. To avoid flowers self-seeding, it is best to remove wilted blossoms.
6. Alpine Poppy
Alpine poppies are particularly drought and weather resistant since they grow best on calcareous, rocky soil in full sun. Up to and beyond, 2000 m, they can be found all across the Alps. Alpine poppies can reach heights of 5 to 20 cm.
They group together to form a leafy, strong rosette at the base. During July and August, they bloom, producing four-petaled, 5 cm wide, white to yellow blooms.
Alpine poppies grow by self-seeding, making them ideal for growing in rock gardens or alpine meadows.
7. Caucasian Scarlet Poppy
The Caucasian scarlet poppy, also referred to as the ladybird poppy, is comparable to the ordinary poppy and grows to a height of 10 to 50 cm. It blooms from May to June and has slender, hairy stems that are leafless.
The name “ladybird poppy” comes from the deep red color of the petals and the big black dots at the base of each petal. As a result, this is a very interesting looking poppy to keep an eye out for.
8. Japanese Wood Poppy
The Japanese Wood Poppy produces clusters of wide green leaves which are usually around 8 inches wide. The foliage of this plant is beloved by itself, let alone the beautiful and colorful blooms as well. The flower heads look similar to miniature poppies or ponies.
These poppies will flower in late spring to early summer. They can be found in a variety of colors from mauve to a subtle lilac color. Overall, this poppy is more suited to cooler climates, as it doesn’t do well in heat.
It is a really beautiful type of poppy that can be grown in your gardens or found in the mountain woods of Japan.
9. Black And White Poppy
Black and White oriental poppies add grace and elegance to any garden border, acting as the tuxedos of the landscape. Crêpe petals’ sharply contrast black and white tones, which make for dramatic flower arrangements.
Although, you need to ensure you flame-sear the stems to stop milky sap from seeping into the vase water if you do cut these flowers for display purposes.
10. California Tree Poppy
An annual type of plant in the poppy family is the California tree poppy. It grows naturally in dry canyons, and coastline desert plant communities in southern California, and Baja California, Mexico.
Occasionally, it occurs in recently burned regions. It is a common ornamental plant that is grown for its spectacular, big flowers.
This perennial herbaceous plant can grow taller than 7 feet. The up to 7.8-inch-long, waxy-textured, gray-green leaves are separated into a few lance-shaped segments on either side.
The bloom is a large, single flower with six long, crinkly white petals. A mass of many golden stamens is seen in the flower’s center.
11. Turkenlouis Poppy
Turkenlouis poppies will be the star of your spring time or early summer garden because of their brilliant scarlet petals and rich fringe. For gardeners seeking for a low-maintenance perennial that attracts hummingbirds, this poppy variety is a great option.
This is a very grand and attractive type of poppy that enjoys lots of sun. It is a very simple flower to grow, which makes it ideal for anyone who is new to gardening. You will enjoy viewing the vibrant red petals and deep black center.
12. Picotee Poppy
The fully double blooms, which have white centers and frilled orange edges, lend a distinctive touch to any arrangement of cut flowers. The 4 to 6 inch wide bowl-shaped flowers are fairly big.
Picotee is a magnificent oriental poppy type that grows eye-catching cream flowers with a bright orange ruffled edge. These flowers may be cut and used in flower bouquets or grown in garden borders or rockeries to create a stunning display.
13. Turkish Delight Poppy
The very first pink to salmon poppy developed by Amos Perry in the early 1900s is the ancestor of Turkish Delight.
Following decades of the same orange to red colors, this accidental color combination —later designated “Mrs. Perry”—marked the start of numerous new poppy color options.
This is an annual flower that forms clusters of flowers during the summer. It has big, saucer-shaped salmon pink petals with dark centers and long, bristly stems with finely dispersed silvery-green foliage.
14. Spanish Poppy
The Spanish poppy is an annual flower but has a brief lifespan. Like many other poppy species, it likes to self-seed in gardens. Between June and September, it blooms and grows to a height of between 30 and 60 cm.
The Spanish poppy is easily distinguished from other species by its vivid orange to red bloom. It enjoys dry, sunny environments and is resilient below freezing temperatures.
The ‘Flore Pleno’ poppy, which is terracotta in color, is the most well-known kind of Spanish poppy.
Final Thoughts
Poppies are a beautiful type of flower that can be found all over the world, with the red poppy being very symbolic.
While there are many wild varieties of poppies, you can grow most types of poppies in your own garden as well. It is important you meet the right growing conditions for each variety.
We hope you have enjoyed this article. We have provided you with 14 beautiful types of poppies that you may have never come across before. Each flower displays gorgeous and brightly colored blooms for you to enjoy.
I love sharing my experiences with individuals in this community, and I enjoy sharing some of the best tips I have learned over the years caring for my own garden at home.
In my articles, you will find the best flowers, most fragrant flowers you can plant in your garden, how to care for your favorite plants, informative guides and how-tos so you can have the best backyard in town!
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