'American Legion' Heirloom Poppy Seeds

'American Legion' Heirloom Poppy, also called 'Legion of Honor', is a hardy annual wildflower offering summer interest, with attractive black ornamental seed pods extending the season. Highly popular, the long-lived plant sets large, bright red flowers with crepe papery, tissue-like petals, with each flower bearing a clear white cross in its center. Borne singly on long, bristly stems, the showy saucer-shaped blooms work well as cut flowers if stems are singed before being placed it in water.

'American Legion' 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. 'American Legion' Heirloom Poppy is shown to best effect when grouped or massed in borders or beds.

Easily grown from seed and extremely low maintenance, 'American Legion' Heirloom 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 seed 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.