Park's Peony Poppy Flemish Antique

Indescribably elegant, the blooms on this new Peony-flowered Poppy are fully 4 inches across. Jam-packed with ruffled, whorled petals of creamy ivory stroked with rich salmon-red, they really do look just like a Peony, yet have the carefree habit of a sun-loving annual.

Blooming begins when the weather heats up in summer. Cut all you like for indoor arrangements -- they only rebloom faster from cutting! The blue-green foliage is an intense and very flattering backdrop for these blooms. And when the flowers finally pass, large blue-green seedpods rise to replace them. These oblong, hard pods are highly prized as Everlastings, keeping their dusty color and interesting shape for many months in dried arrangements!

Park's Peony Poppy reaches 2 to 4 feet tall and 1 foot wide. It complements so many summer-blooming annuals, perennials, and shrubs that the selection is limited only by your imagination! For my money, nothing beats a big splash of Hardy Geraniums backed by a swaying sea of poppies, but the long stems also rise above lower-growing, spiked blooms very effectively -- try nestling them in a large planting of Salvia Hotline Red or the dark Blue Queen.

If you want to grow more in this splendid series of Poppies, I suggest pairing Flemish Antique with dramatic black. (Or, if you're like me and must have all the colors, go with the economical mix.)

This Poppy is extremely easy to grow. For early summer show, sow direct either in late fall, winter, or even early spring! Best in areas where summers are cool or dry; not a good choice for humid regions. Pkt is 100 seeds.