Iceland Poppies!
January 29, 2010
Iceland Poppies
My Favorite Things…
LeslieFinical Halleck - originally published in Neil Sperry's Gardens E-Newsletter 
What is not to love about thisboreal beauty? On sunny days, light shines through the brightly colored,paper-thin petals creating a brilliant display in the garden. The flowers areeven sweetly scented. Every part of the poppy plant from the silvery foliage tothe unique furry flower buds, offers a bounty of interest. They are the perfectcompanion for other cool-season plantings such as parsley, kale, pansies andviolas. In their natural state, Papaver nudicaule is usually found inshades of white and yellow. The recessive colors of orange, pink and redare brought out through selection and all colors are generally offered as a mixin the garden center.
Iceland Poppies don’t like the heat and willdie off with the onset of summer. They are generally very easy to grow and don't require extra care. The one thing they don't appreciate is wet feet. Make sure your soil drains well and you don't provide too much extra irrigation in the winter months. Mulching plants with about 1-inch of expanded shale can help cut down on excess moisture around the root zone.
You can plant Iceland poppies right now and then again in October through November. I hope you enjoy these beauties in your garden as much as I do in mine!
