Very beautiful flowers and a well-known wild flower, although not so prolific in the wild nowadays due to the use of pesticides by farmers. Attract butterflies, bees and hoverflies. The wild Poppy is red, the Shirley variety has a wide range of gorgeous colours. Poppies are good self-seeders and often spring up in disturbed ground, the seed having lay dormant for many years. Anglo-Saxon name - popig. Rhoeas may come from the Greek, rho, possibly meaning red. Plinus, in ancient Greece, claimed that papaver derived from papa = pap, the mashed up food of babies, poppy juice being dded to it to help the infants to sleep. It may also relate to the Latin papula, "papule", due to the rounded seed capsules. Poppy seeds have been found that date as far back as 25,000 years. An average Poppy produces about 17,000 seeds.

Nursing mothers hundreds of years ago would rub poppy juice on their nipples to encourage suckling babies to fall asleep after feeding! Don't try this at home though! It was also believed that Poppies caused headaches and thunderstorms! Since the seeds were thought to bring health and strength, Greek athletes were given a mix of Poppy seeds, honey and wine to drink.

The Opium Poppy is represented in paintings of the twin brothers Hypnos and Thanatos (Sleep and Death) - sleep induced by opium could lead to death. The Opium Poppy is also connected to Hymnus, god of rest and oblivion. Roman mythology linked the Opium Poppy to Somnus, god of sleep. Its principal alkaloid is morphine, taking its name from Morpheus, son of Somnus. In small doses, opium is a stimulant and used to be fed to tired horses.

The tombs of the ancient Pharoahs were strewn with Poppy flowers. In the Middle Ages they were used to treat chest infections. The Poppy was also the sacred flower of Ceres, the Roman goddess of Corn. Legend has it she was so weary that she was not looking after the corn properly so Somnus, god of Sleep, created the Poppy to make her sleep and wake again refreshed. The Poppy is also a symbol of remembrance because its red flowers represent the blood of the dead. To the ancient Greeks it symbolised regeneration - Venus is sometimes represented with an apple in one hand and a Poppy flower in the other. It has been used in potion as an antidote to those bewitched to love someone. Poppies were made into dolls by country children - fold down the petals to make a skirt and hold it in place with a belt of grass.

Magic tells us that if Poppy seeds are soaked in wine for 15 days, then the wine drunk for 5 days while fasting, then you will be able to make yourself invisible at will. Young Greek girls would test the fidelity of their lover by placing a Poppy petal in the hand. They would strike it sharply and if it made a cracking noise then their lover was sincere, but if broke they were unfaithful. During World War II Poppy oil was used instead of olive oil. Also knownas Thundercup and Thunderfloewrs because it shouldn't be picked during a storm.

If using Poppies as a cut flower, holding the base of the stem over a flame or pouring boiling water over it for a few seconds will make the flowers last longer. Relieves pain, relaxes spasms and improves digestion.

Perennial Poppy (papaver orientale) - Pizzicato

Hardy perennial. Semi-dwarf so is good for windy spots. Can bear as many as 20 stems of flowers, 6 inches across, in many colours. Ht 20 ins.

*This sheet is provided for information only and is in no way a prescription for use. Please seek the advice of a qualified herbalist before using*

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