In early summer they can be admired again: the bright yellow cornfields with the numerous bright red spots of corn poppies (Papaver rhoeas) and the blue cornflowers. The beautiful, but often not particularly long-lived flowers of the poppy can also be admired in numerous gardens. However, you should be careful when choosing suitable varieties, because the cultivation of some types of poppy - including the opium poppy, also known as blue poppy - falls under the Narcotics Act in Germany and is therefore prohibited.

There are also white opium poppy varieties

Cultivation of opium poppies requires a permit

Opium poppy (Papaver somniferum) and some other poppy species and varieties (e.g. Papaver bracteatum and Papaver paeoniflorum) contain opiates, which is why they are also used to produce opium or heroin. For this reason, the cultivation or planting of these types of poppies is strictly prohibited and can be punished with imprisonment and / or fines in case of infringement. In exceptional cases, however, the planting of opium poppies may be permitted by the Federal Opium Agency, for example to obtain the seeds used as blue or baking poppies or for scientific purposes.

Beautiful ornamental poppy varieties as an alternative

Instead of the problematic opium poppy, however, there are many equally beautiful ornamental poppy varieties with single or double flowers in different colors. We present the most beautiful ones to you here.

Oriental poppy (Papaver orientale)

The Turkish poppy is a perennial shrub with silvery hairy foliage. The plant loves humus-rich and calcareous soil and should be planted in full sun. You can propagate the Turkish poppy by root cuttings as well as by seeds.

The most beautiful Turkish poppy varieties

variety flower color heyday growth height
Aladdin strong red May to June up to 80 cm
Beauty of Livermere Orange red June to July up to 100 cm
Catherine salmon with black spots June to July up to 80 cm
Helen Elizabeth salmon June to July up to 80 cm
Marcus Perry strong orange-red May to September up to 60 cm
Perry's White white with dark spot May to June up to 80 cm
Petty's Plum dark red with a dark center May to July up to 80 cm
picotee White May to July up to 90 cm
Turkish Louis red, fringed May to June up to 70 cm

Iceland poppy (Papaver nudicaule)

Icelandic poppies, which are usually one to two years old, bloom profusely in white, yellow, orange-red or red. The cold germ grows up to 50 centimeters high and prefers sandy soil.

Alpine poppy (Papaver alpinum)

The cold germinator usually flowers white, yellow or orange and, like many mountain plants, prefers a lean, calcareous and rather dry location with lots of sun.

tips

The wild poppy (Papaver rhoeas) is also ideal for a garden culture, as it is particularly well adapted to our climate and is also very robust.

Category:

Herbs