Papaver somniferum (Paeoniiflorum Group) 'Black Beauty' (d)

RHS Plant Profile

opium poppy 'Black Beauty'

Synonyms

Papaver somniferum var. paeoniiflorum 'Black Beauty'
Papaver paeoniiflorum 'Black Beauty'

Annual Biennial

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An annual poppy, to 90cm high, with deeply toothed, pale blue-green leaves. In early summer, produces bowl-shaped, double flowers on leafy stems, with dark reddish-purple petals that are almost black. Flowers are followed by large, blue-green seed pods

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Chalk, Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.5-1 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 1 year
Max Spread: 0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height: 0.5-1 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Loam Sand

Moisture: Moist but well–drained or Well–drained
pH: Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun

Aspect: South–facing or West–facing
Exposure: Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H5
Drought Resistance: Yes

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Papaveraceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Bushy
Potentially harmful: Harmful if eaten. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling Pets: Harmful if eaten - see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants for further information and useful contact numbers
Genus: Papaver can be annuals, biennials or herbaceous perennials with simple or pinnately divided leaves and short-lived, saucer-shaped, 4-petalled flowers which may be solitary or in racemes
Name Status: Accepted

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in a sunny spot in well drained soil, with plenty of organic matter dug in before sowing

Propagation

Propagate by seed, sown successionally and in situ from early spring. Thin seedlings as required, but they do not like to be transplanted

Suggested planting locations and garden types

City and courtyard gardens
Cottage and informal garden
Gravel garden
Prairie planting
Wildflower meadow
Flower borders and beds

Pruning

No pruning required but deadhead if seed is not required

Pests

May be susceptible to aphids

Diseases

May be susceptible to downy mildews, powdery mildews, fungal wilts and verticillium wilt