Top of the poppies: encounters with the boldest varieties

BEST FOR POOR DRY SOILS

California poppy

This sunny little poppy (Eschscholzia californica) is the state flower of California, and majors on shades of yolk yellow and orange, with a few pinks thrown in. It thrives in a sunny spot and will do well on poor soils. ‘Mikado’ has deep orange

petals with a scarlet reverse.

BEST FOR CUTTING Iceland poppy

The big wide flowers of Papaver nudicaule in pastel shades last well in a vase if treated right. ‘Wind Song’ is gorgeous in soft shades of yellow and apricot; ‘Giant Coonara’ is

tall and sturdy, but it can be difficult from seed – sow indoors

then transplant when young.

BEST FOR DAMP AND SHADE Welsh poppy

Welsh poppy (Papaver cambrica), a perennial, is at home

in the damp woodlands of its native Wales, and will also wedge itself into cracks in damp walls. Perfect for brightening dark, mossy corners, it flowers all summer once established. Sow

direct in deep, moist soil.

BEST SELF SEEDER Shirley poppy

Shirley poppies (Papaver rhoeas) are descended from a stray white-edged corn poppy

spotted in the garden of Reverend William Wilkes in 1880. Cultivars include the semi-double mixed pastels of ‘Mother of Pearl’ and the striking blueish grey of ‘Amazing Grey’.

BEST FOR COTTAGE GARDENS

Oriental poppies

Big, blousy and glamorous, oriental poppies (Papaver orientale) come in a huge range of colours and their flowers are

the most impressive. Claire Austin loves dramatically fringed deep red ‘Turkenlouis’ and white petalled ‘Snow Goose’.

BEST FOR COOLER AREAS

Himalayan blue poppy

A striking deep blue beauty, but tricky to propagate. Meconopsis baileyi will scorch in heat and sun so is most often seen in Scottish and northern gardens. Seed must be sown fresh, and plants die after flowering, but they can self seed if conditions

are to their liking.

BEST FOR FULL SUN

Spanish poppy

The Spanish or Moroccan poppy (Papaver rupifragum) is a perennial but also self-seeds, and

is good at finding its way into nooks on sunny patios and paths. Stephen Shirley recommends the double variety ‘Orange Feathers’. Buy seed and sow in spring, plant

out in early summer.

Annuals (plus perennials best treated as annuals in the UK) Perennials