Shirley Poppy Fast Facts

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Overview

The Shirley poppy is an annual flower, meaning the plant lives for 1 year and new flowers grow the next year from seeds. They are considered to be one of the easiest to grow of all poppy species.

Features

The Shirley poppy produces flowers that are 3 to 4 inches in diameter and come in shades of white, pink and red. The flowers bloom at the top of straight, hairy stems. The plant will grow to a height of 2 to 2 ½ feet.

Environment

The Shirley poppy likes well-drained soil and full sun to partial shade. The Shirley poppy is hardy in zones 3 to 9, which is all but the single coldest and single hottest zones.

Planting

The Shirley poppy can be sown by seed directly in the garden. In the south, it should be planted in the fall, and in the north, it should be planted in the spring. The seeds should be sown on the surface, not buried. The seeds will germinate in about 10 to 30 days.

Care

Once the seeds start to grow, thin them out to about 8 to 12 inches apart. Cut off the dead flowers if you do not want the seeds to spread.

Uses

The Shirley poppy is used in flower gardens, grows as a wildflower in meadows and is used as a cut flower. The seed pods are dried and used in dried flower arrangements.

References

Shirley Poppy Facts
Growng the Shirley Poppy
How to grow the Shirley Poppy

Keywords: Shirley Poppy, annuals, wildflowers

About this Author

Regina Sass has been a writer for 10 years, penning articles for publications in the real estate and retail industries. Her online experience includes writing, advertising and editing for an educational website. Sass is a member of the Society of Professional Journalists.