Poppy
flower
Direct sow only — dislikes transplanting. Scatter seeds in fall or early spring; they need cold stratification from natural conditions. Dramatic crepe-paper blooms. Self-seeds reliably each year.
At a glance
- USDA Zones
- 3–9
- Sun
- Full sun (6+ hrs)
- Water
- Low — drought-tolerant once established
- Soil
- Loam, sandy
- pH
- Neutral
- Spacing
- 6 in. between plants
- Per square foot
- 4 plants per square
- Days to maturity
- About 60 days
Planting & harvest windows
Northern Hemisphere timing. Adjust ±4–6 weeks based on your last/first frost dates.
| Activity | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plant | ||||||||||||
| Harvest |
Plant Harvest
Good companions
Recommended varieties
- Shirley Mix60 daysseed
Annual (Papaver rhoeas) — silky pastel single flowers.
- Lauren's Grape60 daysseed
Stunning large deep purple semi-double blooms.
- Icelandic Poppyseed
P. nudicaule — cool-season perennial-type in bright, vivid colors.
- Oriental Poppystart
P. orientale — perennial with giant flamboyant blooms.
Add Poppy to your raised bed — the planner handles spacing and companion warnings automatically.
Open the planner →