Buy laucasian scarlet poppy / ladybird poppy Papaver commutatum

Papaver commutatum

laucasian scarlet poppy / ladybird poppy

The upright stems carrying the flower buds snake up from amongst softly hairy grey-green foliage in summer and split open to reveal deep red petals, each with a black spot at its base. These vibrant flowers form big bowls of colour, and as the petals drop, the ground beneath becomes a vivid carpet.

How to care for Papaver commutatum:

These poppies tend to resent root disturbance, so plant or sow them in situ. If you don't want them to self-seed, then remove the spent flowerheads after the petals fall. If however you'd like another batch of self-sown seedlings in subsequent years, leave the seedheads intact, and when the seed has ripened, give them a gentle shake to spread their contents. When watering, avoid the 'little and often' approach, but when the soil becomes dry, water thoroughly so it can really soak in.

Sowing instructions:

Sow shallowly, directly into a well prepared bed in spring, or (for an earlier display the following year) late summer to early autumn. Water well and as the seedlings appear, thin them out to 30cm intervals keeping just the healthiest and most robust ones to develop.