The Flanders Poppy is a Native Hardy Annual.

It completes its life cycle in one season. It is famously a pioneer plant, meaning it loves "disturbed" soil (which is why it bloomed on the battlefields).

The Self-Seeder: This plant is a master of survival. If you leave the "pepper pot" seed heads to dry, they will shake out thousands of seeds. These seeds can lay dormant in the soil for decades, waiting for the ground to be dug over again to spring to life.

Poppies are incredibly easy, but they have one rule: Do not bury them!

Germination:
Sow directly outdoors in Autumn (Sept-Oct) for early flowers next year, or Spring (March-May). Rake the soil to a fine tilth (crumbly texture). Scatter the seeds on the surface. Do not cover with soil—they need light to trigger germination. Simply walk over the area to press them in.

Where to Sow:
They demand full sun. They thrive in poor, dry, or sandy soil. They hate competition, so clear away grass or weeds before sowing.

Care While Growing:
If you have sown them too thickly, thin them out! Crowded poppies will be tiny and weak. Give them space (15-20cm) to grow into bushy, multi-stemmed plants.

Recreate the classic "Cornfield Meadow" by pairing poppies with these native friends:

• 🔵 Cornflower 'Blue Ball': The Red, White & Blue. Mixing the scarlet of the Poppy, the blue of the Cornflower, and the white of Oxeye Daisies creates the definitive British wildflower look.
• 🌼 Oxeye Daisy: The backbone. The large white daisies provide a stable, perennial structure that supports the thinner stems of the annual poppies.

Sow directly outdoors in autumn or spring. Flowers mid-summer.