Icelandic Poppy, Italian Colibri 'Pastel Mix'
Papaver nudicaule
Please Note: This mix will have a high percentage of blush and pale peach with white (none or very few pink and salmon). There was a mix-up with our order, but I'm not mad about pale peach, blush, and white😉.
A must grow on our farm, especially for wedding work (the poppy moment in my sister's bridal bouquet🥲, wedding photos by @shanst.clair). We love them so much, we named our dog Poppy!
True Italian Colibri Poppy seeds are hard to find unless you can order wholesale. I adore Icelandic poppies, but not all Icelandic poppies are the same. Colibri Icelandic Poppies were bred in Italy for the cut flower trade, producing high yields of enormous flowers in stunning colors. Because of this, these highly sought-after blooms command a much higher price (both the fresh-cut flowers, as well as the seed). Breathtaking blooms on whimsical stems; hands down one of my favorite additions to both the garden and floral designs. This is an exquisite pastel mix in shades of blush, pale peach, and white. I grabbed a few extra with my usual order to share!
Packet contains approximately 50 seeds.
DETAILS
Plant type: Hardy annual/biennial
Days to maturity: 100–120 days
Light preference: Full sun
Plant spacing: 9 inches
Plant height: 15–20 inches
Hybrid status: Hybrid (F1)
SOWING
Depth: Surface sow
Germination: 7–12 days at 65–75°F
How to Grow
If growing as a biennial, start seed indoors in small trays in late summer and transplant into the garden in the fall. If growing as an annual, start seed indoors in small trays 8–10 weeks before transplanting out. Surface sow over a fine dusting of vermiculite. Seeds are tiny, we prefer to sow with the moistened end of a toothpick. Do not pinch.
Harvest & Vase Life
Harvest buds as they just begin to crack open and show a bit of color, but before they fully expand. You can see a video of exactly when I harvest here. Most buds will open naturally, but occasionally, some will not no matter how perfectly they were harvested. In these cases, I gently coax them open (you can see a video of me doing this here).
There is much documented about searing ends of poppy stems or dipping in boiling water, but there is just as much out there saying this does not make a difference. The idea is to cauterized the stem to keep in the milky sap. Postharvest Handling notes that burning and dipping in 194F water for 5 seconds has been reported to increase vase life by one day in Italy.
Interestingly, Farmer Bailey notes the following: Alternatively, you can simply pick them and store dry in a closed cardboard box in your cooler. The stem will naturally seal itself. When you are ready to use the stems, simply stand them up in clean water in the cooler. They will start to open by the following morning.
Expected vase life: 5–7 days.
SHIPPING
FREE: $100 or more on any seeds
$3.95: 1–9 seed packets
$7.95: 10+ seed packets
