Poppies - More varied than I thought.

Although my lasting images of a poppy (papaver) are in great swathes in fields and distant landscapes, or as the poignant image of the British Legion, my search today for an exterior plant led me to the ORIENTAL Poppy. Not just in red, but in vibrant orange, pink, purple, yellow and white, the flowers of this plant are large and have papery exotic looking petals.

They are great in herbaceous borders and will provide colour from mid spring until later in the summer. (Depending on the variety you choose.) Again picking Sue (our garden designer)'s brains, it is advisable to plant other later flowering plants into your border for continuous colour throughout the summer.

Points to Note:
* Happiest in sunny, well drained soil
* Spread 2-4ft, height 2-3ft
* Perennial.
* Cut back foliage when completely dead.
* Can be propogated from root cuttings as well as from seed.

Other points of interest include using poppy seeds and poppy seed oil in cooking. Also seed pods on the dead plant are attractive to feeding birds, adding another interest to your garden.