Looking to grow poppies but a little short on space? If so you may be wondering if you can grow poppies in a pot? Let’s have a look and find out.
Can You Grow Poppies In A Pot?
Yes, you can grow poppies in a pot, in fact, there are some types of poppies that are very well suited to being grown in a pot. Field poppies and California poppies work particularly well in pots.
If you can find a big enough pot then you can grow oriental poppies, they will grow just fine as long as the pot is big enough.
Opium or Breadseed poppies are also suitable for growing in pots but like oriental poppies, they will require a larger pot.
Can You Grow California Poppies In A Pot?
California poppies have a real trailing habit so they can look beautiful falling over the sides of a pot.
Can You Grow Oriental Poppies In A Pot?
Oriental poppies can be grown in pots but they are not as suited to being pot grown as California or field poppies are. This is simply due to them being a much bigger plant and also growing quite a large tap root.
Don’t let this put you off though, if you want to grow oriental poppies but only have space in your garden for pots then they will grow in a pot just fine. All you have to remember is that an oriental poppy can grow into quite a large plant, and as such, will need a large pot.
Can You Grow Field Poppies In A Pot?
You can grow field poppies anywhere, which is why we see them pop up as wildflowers in hedgerows and fields. Because they are so easy to grow they can be grown in pots without issue.
Choosing A Pot To Grow Poppies In
Choosing the right pot can make a big difference in how well your poppies grow. You will want a fairly large pot, but if like me you have ever bought large ceramic pots then you will know just how expensive they can be.
But don’t panic, there is a solution, these plastic pots look just like ceramic pots but being made from recycled plastic they are a lot cheaper. And even better, they last longer too!
- These lightweight planters are made from recycled plastic and are finished with a beautiful glazed effect
- Made from non-toxic durable recycled plastic, but still look like a realistic colourful planter.
- At 1.08 kilograms, these pots are lightweight, so be moved around the garden with ease
What Soil To Use?
Getting the right soil can be very important with some potted plants, but with poppies, you don’t need to be too precious. Any multipurpose compost or specialist potting mix will work just fine.
How Often Do I Need To Change The Soil
It is always a good idea to refresh the soil every year, but that doesn’t mean you need to waste the old stuff.
Use it as a mulch in your garden or add it to your compost heap to reinvigorate it, ready to be used again in a year’s time!
Will Potted Poppies Come Back Every Year?
Different types of poppies
There are so many different types of poppies, each with its own growing characteristics and appearance that they might as well be different plants.
what applies to one poppy may not apply to others, so here is a quick breakdown of the different poppies there are.
Field Poppies (Papaver Rhoeas)
This is the remembrance poppy. A wild growing annual poppy with a small red flower with a black centre.
These are really easy to grow and are found in many wildflower mixes. You can just scatter them on the soil and let them grow, they need very little care or attention.
Oriental Poppies (Papaver orientale)
These are probably the most common garden poppy. They are perennial flowers and are much larger than field poppies.
They provide large flowers in a range of colours, although the flowers are only fleeting they are treasured by gardeners up and down the country.
Opium Poppies (Papaver somniferum)
Also known as bread seed poppies these are the poppies used for opioid production. The easiest way to spot an opium poppy by eye is the large pale green leaves. They have an almost rubbery appearance.
Opium poppies are completely legal to grow in the UK as long as it is not at scale, for obvious reasons.
The name opium poppy is actually a bit misleading as many modern opium poppies produce very little opium.
Himalayan Poppies (Meconopsis betonicifolia)
The bright blue poppy is known as being difficult to grow. It is a short-lived perennial that is particularly fussy about the soil it grows in.
It likes slightly acidic soil that is well draining but very fertile and it also doesn’t like being in full sun.
Iceland Poppies (Papaver nudicaule)
These are perennial poppies but are usually grown as an annual in the UK. Despite being named the Iceland poppy they are actually a North American or east Asian species.
California Poppies (Eschscholzia californica)
While actually a biennial these are grown as annuals in the UK. They are known for creating beautiful sprawling displays of colour, usually orange but also available in peaches and pinks.
Even though you may think I have listed a lot of poppies above this list is nowhere near exhaustive and there are many more types of poppy. As you can see the variety is almost endless!