Days to Maturity: 60 to 75
'Pandora' Poppy is a hardy annual offering late spring and summer interest, with attractive black seedpods extending the season of interest. The long-lived plant sets impressive flowers with crepe papery, tissue-like petals in surprising combinations of shades, from deep burgundy red to pinkish red, with silver-grey stripes on the lower petals. Borne singly on long, bristly stems, the showy saucer-shaped blooms change colors gradually. They attract birds and bees to the garden and make lovely cut flowers if stems are singed before placing it in water.
'Pandora' is a Papaver rhoeas cultivar, 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. 'Pandora' Poppy is shown to best effect when grouped or massed in borders or beds.
Easily grown from seed and extremely low maintenance, 'Pandora' Poppy prefers full sun and organically rich, medium moisture, well-drained soils. It is intolerant of drought and overly wet, poorly drained soils. Growing best in cool summer climates, it does not perform well in high heat and humidity and may require some light afternoon shade in hot summer climates. Deadheading spent flowers keeps the poppy blooming. The flowers freely self-seed in suitable conditions, naturalizing and returning from year to year, performing more like a perennial than an annual. Deer and rabbit resistant.
Direct sow poppy 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.
