Opium Poppy Seeds

CA$5.95

A historic garden poppy grown for beauty, edible seeds, medicinal and cultural significance

Opium Poppy (Papaver somniferum) is a historic annual poppy long cultivated for its ornamental beauty, edible seeds, medicinal and cultural importance. This striking plant produces elegant, satiny flowers in soft shades of white, pink, lavender, or purple, followed by distinctive rounded seed pods that mature after flowering.

Our own farm-grown Opium Poppy seeds (Papaver somniferum) are offered for organic growing. All seeds are grown on our farm without the use of chemicals and are open-pollinated, hybrid-free, and GMO-free.

Each package contains 100+ seeds.

A historic garden poppy grown for beauty, edible seeds, medicinal and cultural significance

Opium Poppy (Papaver somniferum) is a historic annual poppy long cultivated for its ornamental beauty, edible seeds, medicinal and cultural importance. This striking plant produces elegant, satiny flowers in soft shades of white, pink, lavender, or purple, followed by distinctive rounded seed pods that mature after flowering.

Our own farm-grown Opium Poppy seeds (Papaver somniferum) are offered for organic growing. All seeds are grown on our farm without the use of chemicals and are open-pollinated, hybrid-free, and GMO-free.

Each package contains 100+ seeds.

Why Grow Opium Poppy?
A traditional medicinal, Opium poppies are valued today primarily for their ornamental presence in the garden and their edible seeds, which have been used in traditional baking for centuries. Easy to grow and well suited to cottage gardens, containers, and mixed borders, these poppies also support pollinators during bloom and readily self-seed when allowed to mature.

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PLANT DETAILS

Common Names
Opium Poppy, Poppyseed Poppy, Poppy

Botanical Name
Papaver somniferum

Plant Family
Papaveraceae (Poppy Family)

Life Cycle
Annual

Native Range
Mediterreanean

Hardiness Zone
2-11

Habit
Annual poppy producing upright stems topped with large, showy flowers followed by rounded blue-green seed pods. Seed pods develop after petals drop and mature through summer. Plants add strong visual interest and structure to the garden.

Sun & Soil Requirements
Prefers full sun and regular garden soil. Performs best in well-drained beds with moderate fertility.

Germination & Sowing Instructions
Seeds are best direct sown by lightly scattering on the soil surface in fall or very early spring. Seeds require cool soil to germinate and should not be deeply covered. Once established, poppies do not transplant well.

Growing & Care
Easy to grow and low maintenance. Provide regular watering during dry periods. Plants may self-seed freely if seed pods are allowed to mature, creating natural successions in the garden.

Harvesting
Seed pods may be harvested once fully dry for decorative use or seed collection. Seeds can be removed from mature pods once they have dried completely. Traditionally the whole ripe green seed heads are harvested promptly just after the petals drop off, finely chopped, and tinctured in high proof alcohol.

Culinary Uses
Edible seeds are easily collected and used for baking traditional poppy seed cakes and breads. 

Medicinal Uses
Papaver somniferum has a long and complex history in traditional medicine and global culture. While parts of the plant were historically used in household apothecaries, the extraction or use of the medicinally potent sap from seed pods is now restricted some regions. Today, opium poppies are mainly grown for their ornamental value, edible seeds, and historical significance.

Themes
Attracts Pollinators, Deer Resistant, Apothecary Garden, Container Garden, Low Maintenance, Cut Flowers.