Poppies (papaver) are a genus of flowering plants in the family Papaveraceae. They are known for their showy flowers, which come in a variety of colours, including red, pink, white, and purple. Poppies are native to Europe, Asia, and North Africa, but they are now grown in many parts of the world. They are popular garden plants and are often used to add colour and interest to borders, beds, and containers. They are often associated with remembrance and sacrifice and used in floral tributes. For example, the red poppy is a symbol of remembrance for those who died in World War I. The seeds of some poppy species, such as the poppyseed, are used in food.

Sow the seeds early autumn in full sun. They will germinate at around 2-3 weeks. 2-3 months later they will flower. Annual Winter flowering plant. Due to the rubble left behind after artillery bombardments on the Flanders fields, Poppies sprung up in their thousands. The lime in the fragmented masonry was a great fertiliser for poppies. After a few years, when all the lime had been absorbed by the plants, the poppies largely disappeared.