Need some Help finding Poppy plants locally

Hi there,

I am located in Ontario, Canada, near halton. I was hoping someone could tell me where I could find some LIVE bread seed poppy plants, also know as Papaver somniferum. I know there are lots of Oriental poppies and I have some of them planted, but so far have had no luck finding the bread seed poppy anywhere. Does anyone know of a garden centre, or live plant dealer that might have them? Is there anyone who would be able to sell me a live plant or a cutting? I have seeds, but am really looking for live plants.

Any help appreciated.
Cheers

 

Oriental poppies = Papaver orientalis

Opium poppies = Papaver somniferum

The opium poppies used to pop up in gardens all over Vancouver in all kinds of forms...whites through pinks to purples, some doubled, some single, and all kinds of ruffles in between.

As the old gardens are being ripped out and redone when new houses go up, the old garden poppies are disappearing. Nurseries do not sell them as I believe trade in the actual plants is technically illegal, but you can still buy seed, although even that is getting harder.

There are a number of online sources, some offering mixes. Just google papaver somniferum mixed.

 

There are many Papaver somniferum in my garden. The bees frequent them with a frenzy, and the flowers are most attractive.

The seeds from the bulk food store are all Papaver somniferum and they germinate all too well. I will be posting pictures soon, since some are ready to bloom.

Papaver somniferum are often grown in municpal gardens, and when visiting I often check for them.

They are not illegal to grow in Canada, but I assume one may be taken to task if found lancing the seed pod. It takes thousands to get any reasonable amount of latex.

The seedlings are very delicate, and small, and do not transplant well, unless extreme care is taken. The seeds are best spread, where they are desired to grow, and thinning to about 8 inches apart is mandatory to have large healthy plants, with many blooms.

 

You will all understand my disbelief when our elementary school, which is blessed with two lovely interior courtyards, ripped out all the beautiful old fashioned poppies in the extensive school gardens because several parents were very upset that "opium poppies" were in gardens the children frequented.

I rather thought any elementary school child who:

a) was so into taxonomy they could appreciate the difference between Papaver rhoeas and Papaver somniferum, and

b) researched, and then set up a successful heroin extraction lab

should probably zoom to the top of his/her class and be graduated forthwith!

I wonder, are all these delicate little children forbidden access to the grocery store and Tim Horton's based on the evil influence exerted there by POPPY SEED BAGELS???!!!

 

Durgan, what do the blooms of your bread seed poppies look like? Are they all the same, or all the different bloom types we see in the old gardens?

(and which can also be seen by googling images for breadseed poppy)

One source of seed I found:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Somniferum-Popp...Z3183QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1742.m153.l1262

 

http://chaeh.notlong.com/ 26 July 2007 Papaver Somniferum Flower pictures with Description.

 

Durgan, WOW!!! Did all those come from bulk breadseed poppy seed at the bulk food store?!

I especially like the pink with white basal patches.

 

Some are bulk food flowers, and others are from various seeds collected over the last three years. Apparently the poppies cross and there is almost an unlimited number of beautiful flowers. My first flower for 2008 ws produced today. It is shown in the above thread.

I mix all my seed and plant at randon, and accept what is produced. Every bloom is a suprise, and they are the first plant visted in the morning, since It is interesting to watch the bees in a frenzy going from bloom to bloom.

 

One of the things I loved about gardening in Vancouver was the "surprise poppies" that would volunteer in everyone's gardens. Durgan, I haven't seen good photos of them before but yours were perfect. You would go out to weed in the spring and see the bright, silvery green seedlings and wonder just what flower you were going to get. It was so much fun.

Would you keep me out a packet of mixed seeds from your lovely collection of poppies? Not just for my garden, but I plant to roam the town, sprinkling little pinches of poppy dust, in an attempt to re-establish the tradition.

BTW I too adore watching the bees throng the flowers. My Centranthus ruber (Red Valerian) and catmint have been huge hits with the bees this year.