These colorful annual wildflowers brighten up sunny spots in early summer.
With their brilliant orange-red paper-like blooms, corn poppies add a ton of color to the garden.
They are also called field poppies, a reference to this wildflowers tendency to naturalize in open fields.
Credit:Andre Baranowski
Corn poppies are easy to grow and often self-seed, allowing them to appear year after year.
In addition to the classic fire engine-red species, there are also corn poppy varieties in different colors.
for germinate, the seeds need two weeks ofcold stratification.
Credit:Andre Baranowski
Barely cover them with fine soil, no deeper than 1/16 inch, as they need light to germinate.
Mark the location well.
Keep the planting area evenly moist.
Once the seedlings emerge, it’s possible for you to thin them to 6 to 8 inches apart.
Corn Poppy Care Tips
Corn poppies are easy to grow and require every little care.
Light
Always plant corn poppies in full sun.
They do well in moist soil but can also tolerate dry soil.
Watering them regularly helps them thrive but it is not essential, unless in extremely dry weather.
Temperature and Humidity
Corn poppies both germinate and flower best in cool to moderately warm weather.
They do not tolerate heat and humidity well and aren’t suitable for summers above Zone 10.
Fertilizer
The plants do fine in nutrient-poor soil and fertilizing them is not necessary.
Pruning
To extend the bloom time, regularlydeadhead the spent flowers.
Removing the spent flowers before they set seed also prevents the plant from self-seeding if that is not desired.
double-check it has large drainage holes and fill it with well-draining potting mix.
Repotting is not required as the life cycle of corn poppies only lasts one season.
The plants occasionally attract aphids.
Wet conditions and poor soil drainage can lead to root rot.
In high humidity, the plants are prone to get fungal diseases such as botrytis blight and powdery mildew.
Popular Shirley poppies include Mother of Pearl with delicate pink or lilac flowers.
Bridal Silk
This white poppy cultivar has silky petals and creamy yellow anthers.
Its purple-blue flowers grow on 3-foot tall stems from late spring well into the summer.
Like allCentaureaspecies, it is a prolific nectar producer that attracts butterflies.
Cosmos
These warm-weather annuals fill your garden with vibrant colors when the corn poppies are done blooming.
While each flower only lasts for a day, poppy plants bloom for about two to three weeks.
