Saturday, July 18, 2009

Favorite plant of the day: 'Lauren's grape' poppy

How can anyone not love this plant? It's a stunner up close ...


... and from a step back ...


... and in context with other bloomers including lilies, pink allium, purple Salvia nemorosa 'Caradonna' and white phlox.



This Papavar somniferum is a selection introdu
ced by horticulturist Lauren Springer Odgen. The seed was selected in Colorado and isolated over seven years to get the pure seed strain. She's also the author of one of my favorite plant resources, "The Undaunted Garden."

I had a few of these poppies in last year's garden and deliberately let them go to seed. They are nothing if not prolific. This spring, I was rewarded with a gazillion seedlings that a friend said looked like lettuce. Just remember to thin; you get bigger, juicier blooms and healthier plants if they're not so crowded.

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