Knowledgebase
California Poppies #858536
Asked February 05, 2024, 11:58 AM EST
Washington County Maryland
Expert Response
There are multiple kinds as you know.
We can't grow California or Icelandic poppies well here, but the so-called Shirley Poppies (Papaver rhoeas http://www.gardening.cornell.edu/homegardening/sceneb880.html) can do well.
So-called 'bread-seed' poppies can also do well as annuals which often self-seed for the following year.
These plants are the same type that opium is made from but the ones grown for horticulture are not usually a problem as noted on this University Extension page:
chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://mastergardener.extension.wisc.edu/files/2017/06/Papaver_somniferum.pdf
Christine
You mentioned "bread seed poppies." And mentioned opium poppies. We just returned to Maryland from 10 years in Maine. In Maine every year some pink ruffled poppies appeared, obviously from seed blown in, and someone told me they were opium poppies. They always appeared in the same patches of garden. Very rocky soil near gravel paths. Were these bread seed poppies? I am 88 so don't know how to send this!
You cannot determine what type of poppy by color alone. There are "pink ruffled" opium poppies, shirley poppies, and even oriental poppies. You could check the link and see if you recognize any through photos: https://www.seedman.com/poppy.htm
There are some differences in the seed pods when comparing breadseeds, shirley, CA poppy (breadseeds have a relatively larger plump pod - those are the ones usually dried for ornamental purposes).
Emily
