Types of poppy: red, white and purple poppies & more

When we think of poppies, the common red poppy is usually the first type of poppy to spring to mind. But you may be surprised to learn there are hundreds of varieties of poppy, with varying growth heights and colours. Discover some of the most beautiful poppy species and varieties for your garden.

Poppy species of the genus Papaver belong to the poppy family known as Papaveraceae and are distantly related to bleeding heart (Lamprocapnos spectabilis), corydalis (Corydalis), and greater celandine (Chelidonium majus). They develop a deep taproot that allows them to draw up moisture from deep down in the soil. Poppy leaves are pinnately lobed and may be globus or hairy. A typical feature of the poppy family is the poisonous milky latex that the plants emit when a stem or leaf breaks.

Poppies form a cup-shaped flower with usually four petals and an ovary in the centre surrounded by numerous stamens. Below the petals, there are two sepals that close the flower bud before the flower opens. After pollination, countless tiny seeds form in capsules. Once mature, these capsules open up and disperse the seeds.

How many poppy varieties and species are there?

Poppy species are distributed mainly in temperate climates up to the border of the subtropics in the Northern Hemisphere. There are over 50 species of Papaver, but of these only a handful are common in our gardens and fields as ornamental and useful plants. Poppies generally do best in full sun on well-drained, rather lean, dry to fresh soils.

Popular poppy species and varieties

Among the various poppy species and varieties, there are a wide variety of flower colours, growth heights and lifespans to choose from. From annual, biennial to perennial, poppies come in heights of between 10 and 150cm and in a variety of shades. They are well-suited as cut flowers and you can use the seed pods to collect seeds or as decoration for dry bouquets. Keep reading to discover some types of poppies that are native to the UK as well as the most common species and Papaver varieties for planting in the garden.

Tip: the California poppy (Eschscholzia californica), also called the California sunlight, and the Himalayan blue Poppy (Meconopsis betonicifolia) do not belong to the genus Papaver, but are nonetheless members of the poppy family and thus related species.

Common poppy (Papaver rhoeas)

The common poppy, also known as the corn poppy, is a wild annual plant native to our temperate climate zone. Common poppies are often seen in crop fields along with cornflowers (Centaurea segetum). The petite plants have delicate, feathery leaves and reach a growth height of 40 to 70cm. Common poppies flower between May and July, but the flowers are usually only open for one day and then shed their petals. After pollination, small, oval-round seed pods appear, each with thousands of grey-blue seeds inside. The plants die once the seeds are mature and scatter their seeds, and new poppy plants germinate the following year. In addition to the red-flowered wild form, there are now many different common poppy types, each with different flower colours. These include grey-purple flowering varieties, such as the variety ‘Amazing Grey poppy’, as well as pink or even pure white varieties. Among the many poppy varieties, there are also single and semi-double poppy flowers, such as the variety ‘Shirley Double Poppy’.

This variety is best-known in the UK and across the Commonwealth as a symbol of remembrance, hope and peace. Red remembrance poppies are made and sold by the Royal British Legion and worn to honour all those who have served and continue to serve today. In recent years, a purple animal remembrance poppy has been introduced and is worn as a show of support and to remember all of the animals that also served and are still in service.

Alpine poppy (Papaver alpinum)

Alpine poppies thrive on calcareous, rocky ground in full sun and are therefore extremely weather and drought resistant. They are found throughout the Alps up to and over 2000m. Alpine poppies are perennial and grow between 5 and 20cm high. They form a basal, stout rosette of leaves and leafless flower stalks. They bloom between July and August, bearing white to yellow flowers, about 5cm across, with four petals. Alpine poppies are good for planting in rock gardens or alpine meadows, where they propagate by self-seeding.

Great scarlet poppy (Papaver bracteatum)

The great scarlet poppy, also known as Iranian poppy or Persian poppy, is mainly grown as a medicinal plant in the Caucasus region and is found up to 2000m altitude. It is perennial and can grow to about 120cm high. Its deep red, broad petals are black at the base, as are the stamens. It has particularly high levels of thebaine, which is used in the production of painkillers. However, cultivation is also allowed outside of pharmaceutical use. This medicinal poppy has, for instance, been bred with the Oriental poppy (Papaver orientale) and is in use worldwide as an ornamental plant. They flower between May and July.

Iceland poppy (Papaver nudicaule)

The Iceland poppy, also known as the bare-stemmed poppy, is one of the cold-tolerant poppy species found in the subarctic regions of America and Asia, but also in Iceland. Iceland poppies are perennial, but short-lived. Most often, these plants live only 2 years, but seed abundantly. This rather small-growing species reaches growth heights of 10 to 60cm and does better in well-drained, poorly calcareous, and lean soils in full sun. This species is leafless with bare flower stalks, which is the reason for its botanical name. In our part of the world, Iceland poppy flowers appear between May and September. They can be red, orange, yellow or white. As with many poppy species and varieties, you can usually buy mixtures that produce different flower colours.

Here are some Iceland poppy varieties and hybrids:

• ‘Champagne Bubbles F1 White’ poppy: Iceland poppy in white with light yellow centre, reaches a growth height up to 40cm.
• ‘Garden Gnome’ poppy: the dwarf Iceland poppy or ‘Garden Gnome’ comes in yellow, orange and white shades, and at just 10 – 20cm high, it is probably one of the weakest poppy varieties.

• ‘Meadow pastels’ poppy: this mixture of varieties with a growth height of 30 – 60cm bears petals in different pastel shades. The flowering period is between July and September.
• ‘Spring Fever Red’ poppy: the red-orange petals of this poppy variety are slightly wavy at the edge and have central bright yellow spots. This variety blooms from May to August and reaches about 30 – 50cm in height.

Caucasian scarlet poppy (Papaver commutatum)

Also known as the ladybird poppy, the Caucasian scarlet poppy is similar to the common poppy and reaches about 10 to 50cm high. It has thin, hairy but leafless stems and flowers between May and June. The flowers are deep red in colour and have large black spots at the base of the petal, hence the name ladybird poppy.

Opium poppy (Papaver somniferum)

Opium poppies are an infamous species of poppies whose milky latex is used to produce medicine, but also heroin. However, there are numerous varieties that are poor in active alkaloids and are grown as an ornamental plant, or for obtaining poppy seeds for baking or to make poppy seed oil. Especially in Austria, opium poppies are grown in large areas, but also do well in gardens and offer edible poppy seeds and attractive flowers. Opium poppies are annuals that reach a growth height of 60 to 150cm, and flower between May and June. They form quite large flowers and later bulbous, rather round seed pods. The most beautiful varieties of opium poppy are:

• ‘Blue Moon’ poppy: this poppy variety with huge flowers in pink, white with dark spots has large seed heads with deep blue, edible seeds. It reaches a height of 80 – 120cm.
• ‘Danish Flag’ poppy: this is a striking poppy variety with fringed petals in bright red and large white basal spots. It can grow from 60 – 90cm high.
• ‘Flemish Antique’ poppy: this double poppy variety with multi-coloured petals in white and pink fits well in vintage gardens and grows about 100cm tall.
• ‘Maanzaad’ poppy: is a classic poppy variety. It is very sturdy, high-yielding, and nutty in flavour and produces large seed heads up to 100cm high. It has white flowers with pink spots.

• ‘Hen and Chickens’ poppy: the poppy variety has the most unusual seed stalks, because the bulbous capsule is surrounded by numerous mini capsules, like a hen and her chicks. The flower itself is strawberry-red with purple basal spots.
• ‘Lauren’s Grape’ poppy: this simple, deep berry-coloured poppy has wine-red basal spots and off-white stamens. It reaches 60 – 100cm high and is a newer poppy variety with contrasting colours and edible seeds.
• ‘Black Peony’ poppy: also known as the ‘Black Paeonia Poppy’, this deep wine-red poppy variety grows to a height of about 70 – 90cm and has almost completely double flowers reminiscent of peonies (Paeonia).
• ‘White flowered’ poppy: this unusual poppy variety is especially popular in the Arabian region. Its creamy white seeds are used in baking and its flowers are white with purple basal spots and grow up to 150cm high.

Spanish poppy (Papaver rupifragum)

The Spanish poppy is perennial but short-lived and likes to self-seed in the garden, as so many other poppy species do. It grows anywhere from 30 to 60cm high and blooms between June and September. The Spanish poppy bears bright orange-red flowers and later its typical elongated capsule fruits, which clearly distinguish it from other species. It prefers dry, sunny locations and is hardy to below -20 °C. The most famous variety is the terracotta-coloured ‘Flore Pleno’ poppy.

Oriental poppy (Papaver orientale)

The Oriental or Turkish poppy is a clump-forming perennial that grows between 70 and 100cm tall. There is no need to deadhead Oriental poppies, as they die back after flowering and produce fresh foliage again in autumn. The cupped flowers, up to 18cm in diameter, appear between May and June. The Oriental poppy is originally from Armenia, the Caucasus region and Iran. It prefers dry to fresh, well-drained, light to heavy soils in full sun.

• ‘Beauty of Livermere’ poppy: this vigorous variety with up to 100cm height has beautiful, deep red flowers and black basal spots. Oriental poppy ‘Beauty of Livermere’ can be propagated true to variety via its seeds.
• ‘Harvest Moon’ poppy: the vigorous poppy variety ‘Harvest Moon’ produces bright orange flowers on 70 – 80cm tall plants. It has a spreading growth habit and can become as wide as it is tall.

• ‘Marlene’ poppy: poppy variety ‘Marlene’ develops rather small, burgundy flowers and reaches a growth height of about 70cm.
• ‘Patty’s Plum’ poppy: the striking purple poppy originates from England and grows up to 70cm tall.

• ‘Pink Perfection’ poppy: this 40 – 80cm tall variety has beautiful, large, pink petals with wavy edges and black base spots. It blooms between May and July and can also be grown in pots.
• ‘Princess Victoria Louise’ poppy: Oriental poppy ‘Princess Victoria Louise’ produces salmon pink flowers with black spots. This popular variety reaches a height of 50 – 80cm.
• ‘Royal Wedding’ poppy: this stunning variety produces pure white flowers with purple basal spots and can grow up to 20cm high.

Papaver miyabeanum

Papaver miyabeanum is a groundcover variety and grows between 10 and 15cm high and about 20cm wide. The species is very frost-hardy and evergreen. Between May and June, it produces cupped, pale lemon-yellow flowers. Papaver miyabeanum enjoy a sunny spot in well-drained, fresh to dry soil, such as in steppe or rock garden beds. The most famous variety is ‘Pacino’.

Poppies are rich in pollen, so are very popular with many pollinators, especially bumblebees. Discover more bumblebee-friendly plants in our dedicated article.