Poppies are reminders of many things, for many people. On Remembrance Day, of course, many of us will think about wars, and the people who fought in those wars and were killed or harmed in the fighting. But poppies can also remind us of happier times and of dear family members. For me, the pink poppies my mother-in-law grew in her farm garden always bring back fond memories of Granny T. I was able to transplant a few of those poppies to our garden in Saskatoon, where they reseed and bloom every year. My daughter also grows the same poppies in her sunny Rosewood garden, and we have shared seed with other family members.
For the past few years, I have become more aware of the variation in colour of poppies that grow in the city of Saskatoon allotment gardens. Many gardeners have grown borders of flowers around their vegetable plots, myself included, and the poppies introduced in this way tend to spread and self-seed in pathways and other areas in the plots. When I was reading the “Poppy” articles written by other gardeners, it was mentioned that poppies flourished in battlefields because the soil had been disturbed by tanks breaking up the fields and trenches being dug. This is why the poppies were chosen as flowers of remembrance. It also explains why the poppies flourish in the newly dug allotments.
We are fortunate to be able to grow several kinds of poppies on the prairies. Saskatchewan and other prairie provinces have a short growing season and cold winters (Zone 3). As poppies are cool-weather flowering plants, they generally perform well in these conditions. Three of the poppies in the Papaver genus that can flourish in our climate are:
1) Iceland Poppies (P. nudicaule): these are short-lived perennials that self-seed and thrive in cooler temperatures. They provide early summer blooms in the garden.
2) Flanders or Field Poppies (P. rhoeas): these are annuals that grow well in sunny, well-drained areas and they also self-seed to provide flowering plants in subsequent years.
3) Oriental Poppies (P. orientale): these perennials form large clumps and produce striking flowers in early to midsummer; they are drought-resistant once established.
California Poppies (Eschscholzia californica) can also be grown in Saskatchewan, but they prefer slightly warmer zones and are usually grown as annuals.
Another genus, Meconopsis cambrica, produces delicate, cup-shaped flowers in shades of deep yellow that reach a diameter of five to eight centimetres, and these are often called “Welsh” poppies, although this plant is not really a poppy. The plants are perennials that self-sow in the fall, and a few seedlings planted in the spring will result in many flowering plants. The plants flourish in partial shade and rich, moist soil, though they will also tolerate dry conditions. Plants can be started indoors from seed in late fall or early spring. Seeds may take several months to germinate, and seedlings should be planted outdoors in the spring when they have at least one set of true leaves.
I used to admire these “Welsh” poppies when I lived in Wales, and if I can source seed, I will try to grow some next year. They grow well in partial shade, and we do have a shady yard, so I’m hoping they will do well there.
If you are interested in growing poppies, the gardening.usask.ca website has very useful growing advice. I quote, “With proper selection of varieties and attention to planting timing and soil conditions, poppies can flourish in Saskatchewan gardens, providing vibrant colours and attracting pollinators throughout the growing season.”
Jill Thomson is a plant disease specialist (retired) who enjoys gardening in Saskatoon with her family, including the grandchildren and dogs.
This column is provided courtesy of the Saskatchewan Perennial Society (SPS; saskperennial@hotmail.com). Check our website (www.saskperennial.ca) or Facebook page (www.facebook.com/saskperennial) for a list of upcoming gardening events.
