Papaver commutatum
(Lady Bird Poppy)
Family - Papaveraceae
Category - Annual
Origin - Caucasus, Greece, Northern Iran, Turkey
Year of Introduction - 1876
Season of Interest - Spring, Summer
Hardiness - H5
Height - up to 45cm
Width - 20cm
Location - The Hot Garden, The Terrace
Description: An annual poppy with an upright, branching habit. The leaves are grey-green and either pinnatisect or oblong in shape. Striking, vivid red, bowl-shaped poppy flowers have four overlapping petals, each with a large black blotch towards the base. Flowers are produced in late spring through midsummer and are followed by pretty grey-green seed Capsules. Occasionally a form of P. commutatum appears with a fine white margin to the petals.
Award of Garden Merit (AGM).
Synonyms include- Papaver umbrosum, P. rhoeas var. commutatum
Flower:
Vivid red, bowl-shaped flowers have four broad, overlapping petals, each with a prominent black blotch. A crown of black stamens are held at the centre of each bloom. Flowers are produced in May through July and are followed by attractive, grey-green seed capsules.
Flower colour: Red
Flower shape: Bowl-shaped flowers
Flowering time: May, June, July
Foliage:
Grey-green leaves are pinnatisect or occasionally oblong in shape. Both leaves and stems are covered in fine, bristly hair.
Foliage Senescence: Deciduous
Foliage Shape: Pinnatisect or oblong
Propagation:
Seed.
Cultivation:
Best in full sun in fertile, well drained soil.