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Remembrance Day poppies

The most recognizable and enduring symbol of Remembrance Day is the bright red poppy that Lt. Col. John McCrae famously depicted in his poem, In Flanders Fields — “In Flanders fields the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row.
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Poppies growing in a field in Flanders, Belgium. Photo by Tijl Vercaemer

The most recognizable and enduring symbol of Remembrance Day is the bright red poppy that Lt. Col. John McCrae famously depicted in his poem, In Flanders Fields — “In Flanders fields the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row.” The poppy that he noticed growing so abundantly was the field or corn poppy (Papaver rhoeas). It is now also commonly known as Flanders poppy.

One of the reasons field poppies were growing so profusely in war torn Europe during the First World War is that it thrives in disturbed soils such as freshly dug trenches. Its common name is in reference to the fact that before synthetic herbicides were available, field poppies were considered weeds in farmers’ fields. But what is one farmer’s weed can be a gardener’s treasure.

The field poppy is a spring-flowering annual with erect hairy stems, reaching upwards of 30 inches in height. It has large showy blooms, two to four inches across. The common species has four bright red petals with a black dot at their base, which has led to another of its common names, the ladybird poppy after the ladybug or ladybird beetle. After flowering, seed capsules develop containing edible seed that can be used in baking. If not deadheaded, the capsules will release their seeds, which then contribute to a long-lived seed bank in the soil.

In the 1880s, Rev. William Wilks, a vicar in the parish of Shirley in England, noticed a variant of the field poppy that had petals with a narrow white border. Over several years of careful crossing and selection he developed poppies in a range of colours including white, pink, pale lilac and red all lacking the black spot at the base of petals. With continuing breeding efforts, semi-double and double types have been developed over the years as well as ones with a contrasting colour band along the flower’s edge (picotee). These are collectively known as Shirley poppies.

Other cultivars exist (Angel’s Choir, Falling in Love) with a broader range of colours that include pastel shades of purple, apricot, coral and salmon as well as more vibrant shades of red.

To grow field poppies, sow in spring directly in the ground as they transplant poorly. You should not have to sow them ever again as they’ll reseed themselves with some seed remaining dormant in the ground for years. Choose a location in full sun with well-drained soil. Field poppies can be used in mixed borders, cottage gardens, along back alleys and elsewhere conditions are tough since they are extremely drought tolerant.

— This column is provided courtesy of the Saskatchewan Perennial Society (www.saskperennial.ca; hortscene@yahoo.com; www.facebook.com/saskperennial). Check out our Bulletin Board or Calendar for upcoming garden information sessions, workshops, tours and other events: Nov. 23, 7:30 p.m. – Victoria’s Lesser Known Gardens with Sara Williams, Emmanuel Anglican Church.