Raspberry Ripple Poppy is a hardy annual wildflower offering late spring and summer interest, but the black seedpods are attractive and extend the season of interest. A reliable bloomer that turns heads in the garden, Raspberry Ripple Poppy sets showy double blooms of crepe papery, tissue-like petals in shades of rich burgundy with silvery white stripes and a distinctive black blotch at the base. Borne on long, bristly stems, the flowers attract birds and bees to the garden and make lovely cut flowers for summer bouquets.
Raspberry Ripple Poppy is a Papaver rhoeas cultivar, a beloved old-fashioned variety also known as the common poppy, corn poppy, field poppy, or Flanders poppy. The plant has a clumping, spreading habit of pinnately lobed, cut or toothed, hairy leaves. The flowers freely self-seed in suitable conditions, naturalizing and returning from year to year, performing more like a perennial than an annual. Raspberry Ripple Poppy is shown to best effect when grouped or massed in borders or beds.
Easy to grow and extremely low maintenance, Raspberry Ripple Poppy prefers full sun and organically rich, medium moisture, well-drained soils. It performs well in average soil, but is intolerant of drought or overly wet, poorly drained soils. Removing spent flowers prolongs bloom. Deer and rabbits usually leave it alone.
Direct sow seeds in spring or start seeds indoors and transplant after the threat of frost has passed. In warm climates, seeds can be sown in late fall for an early spring bloom. If you plan to start your seeds indoors, be sure to check out our Bio Dome Seed Starter Kit. With the Bio Dome, you can control the temperature, light, and soil mix to ensure your seeds become strong for transplant.
