How to Grow Poppies: 8 Tips for Planting Poppies

By: Angela Judd | February 4, 2025

Poppies are one of nature’s most eye-catching flowers, known for their vibrant colors and delicate textures. Learning how to grow poppies can bring stunning bursts of color to your garden and attract helpful pollinators like bees. In this guide, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know about planting and growing poppies.

How to Grow Poppies: 8 Tips for Planting Poppies

Why Grow Poppies?

Poppies are loved around the world for their beauty and simplicity. I’ve enjoyed them in my garden in the low desert of Arizona, where their short-lived yet breathtaking blooms mark the arrival of spring. Watching a poppy’s journey—from a tiny seed to a bud, then a full bloom, and finally a seed pod—is almost magical. I’m not the only one who enjoys poppies blooming. Bees come in abundance, and can’t get enough of these beautiful flowers. Plus, many varieties reseed and return each year, making my job easy!

1. Start Poppy Seeds in the Garden

If you’ve ever been disappointed by nursery-bought poppy plants, consider starting from seed. Here’s how:

Direct Sowing

How to Plant: Gently press a few poppy seeds onto the soil surface—do not cover them, as they need light to germinate. Keep seeds moist, but take care not to displace seeds.
Spacing: Place seeds 6 to 12 inches (15–30 cm) apart (depending on the variety) to allow for good airflow and reduce disease risks.

Frozen Ice Cube Method

Initial Freeze: Fill an ice tray half-full with water and freeze it completely.
Adding Seeds and a Second Freeze: After the first layer of ice is frozen, sow the poppy seeds on top of the ice. Cover with water again to re-freeze. These seed-filled ice cubes can be stored in your freezer for several days (and possibly much longer, based on experience).
Planting: When you are ready to sow, remove the cubes from the tray and place them on top of the soil. As the ice melts, it gently waters the seeds, preventing them from being washed away. The cold contact may also mimic a late winter thaw, which some believe can improve germination rates.

Comparing the Frozen Ice Cube Method to Cold Stratification

Frozen Ice Cube Method: Primarily used for gentle watering, with brief cold exposure to the seeds. This is not the same as prolonged cold stratification, but it may slightly benefit certain varieties by simulating a mild thaw.
Cold Stratification: Involves keeping seeds cold and moist (often in a refrigerator) for several weeks to break dormancy. Alternatively, sowing seeds outdoors in late fall or winter can naturally provide this stratification.

Treating Poppies as Wildflowers

Many years, poppies naturally reseed from the previous season’s plantings. I also like to sprinkle seeds lightly in the fall, letting them behave like wildflowers. I have a few areas in my front yard where poppies return year after year. For more information, see my guide on growing wildflowers.

2. Choose the Right Location

For thriving poppies, pick a sunny spot in your garden:

Sunlight: Poppies need at least 6 hours of direct sunlight each day. In the low desert, as temperatures climb in early summer, the blooms will fade, and the plants will die back.
Space: Some poppy varieties can grow up to 5 feet tall. Make sure you plant them in an area with enough room to grow.
Soil: Plant in well-draining soil that isn’t overly rich. Too much fertility might lead to lush foliage but fewer blooms.

Many poppies reseed easily, so consider planting them in an area where you’re happy to see them return year after year.

3. Mix Up Your Poppy Varieties

Adding a mix of poppy varieties can create a stunning, diverse display. Here are a few favorites:

California Poppy: This iconic wildflower thrives in poor soil and reseeds readily. It’s usually sown in the fall and comes alive with winter and spring rains. (Learn more about growing California poppies here.)
Shirley Poppy: With 3-foot stalks and a range of soft pastels to bold reds, these are perfect for flower beds and as cut flowers.
Peony Poppy: Known for its peony-like blooms, this variety also features attractive gray-green foliage and elegant seed pods.
Oriental Poppy: Best grown in cooler, mountain-like conditions, this poppy stands out with its striking black centers. (Learn more about growing Oriental poppies here.)

4. Plant at the Right Time

Timing is key in growing poppies: Poppies are in the group of cool-season hardy annuals. They tolerate temperatures down to 0°F (-18°C). If they can withstand your coldest temperatures, direct sow 6-8 weeks before your last fall frost. Look up your last frost date here.

In the low desert of Arizona, start sowing seeds in late fall—from October through December.

For areas with cold winters, direct sow poppy seeds after your last frost in early spring.

Starting seeds indoors is not recommended. Poppies often don’t transplant well. For more tips, see my guides on:

The Perpetual Annual Flower Planting Calendar, available in my shop, helps you learn when to plant flowers in the low desert of Arizona and whether to plant seeds or transplants.

5. Thin Your Seedlings

Poppy seeds are tiny and often sprout in abundance. To give each plant enough space to thrive:

Thinning Out: Once your seedlings emerge, thin them to about 6 to 9 inches (15–23 cm) apart (depending on the variety). This prevents overcrowding, ensures proper airflow, and helps reduce the risk of pests and diseases.
Best Practice: Gently remove the excess seedlings, allowing the healthiest plants to grow undisturbed.

6. Care for Your Growing Poppies

After planting, poppies are relatively low maintenance. Here are a few tips that make caring for poppies simple:

Water: Provide deep watering and then allow the top inch or two of soil to dry out before watering again.
Fertilizer: Additional fertilizer is often not required—too much fertilization results in fewer blooms and lush greenery.
Support: For larger varieties, consider staking the plants to keep them upright. Learn more about the netting system for cut flowers I use in this guide.
Maintenance: Once established, remove lower damaged leaves and keep poppies deadheaded unless you intend to save the seed pods.

7. Harvest Flowers for More Blooms

Many poppies make excellent cut flowers. Harvesting them correctly can even encourage more blooms:

Cut at the Right Time: Snip the stems close to the ground just as the blooms begin to open. Poppies will continue to develop after being cut.
Vase Tips: Remove all leaves from the stem and place the cut flower in water. For blooms that last up to 5 days, try searing the cut end in hot water or carefully flame-searing it with a match.
Creative Arrangements: Don’t forget the unique seed pods—they add a lovely touch to floral arrangements.

Get tips for cut flower arrangements in this guide.

8. Save Seeds for Next Season

Want to enjoy poppies year after year? Save some seeds for the next planting season:

Let Them Mature: Allow some of the prettiest blooms to develop seed pods. Once the petals fall off and you see small holes forming in the pods, it’s time to collect the seeds.
California Poppy Tip: For California poppies, pick the long seed-bearing stems when they turn brown but before the seeds are fully released.
Storage: Store your harvested seeds in a paper envelope until they’re completely dry, then keep them safe for next season’s planting.

Learn more about how to save seeds in this guide.

FAQs About Growing Poppies

Here are some frequently asked questions to address common concerns:

Q: Is it legal to grow poppies in the United States?
A: In general, most poppy varieties (California, Oriental, Shirley, etc.) are not restricted; the opium poppy (Papaver somniferum) is subject to federal and sometimes state-level regulations. Always do your homework regarding local laws if you’re unsure.

Q: How often should I water my poppy plants?
A: Poppies need moderate watering. Water when the top inch of soil feels dry.

Q: How much sunlight do poppies need?
A: Poppies thrive with at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily. More sunlight usually results in better blooms.

Q: What type of soil do poppies prefer?
A: They do best in well-draining soil that isn’t overly rich. Too much fertility might lead to lush foliage but fewer blooms.

Q: My poppy seedlings are small and not thriving. What did I do wrong?

A: Sunlight and spacing are common culprits. Is your plant getting enough sun? Does it have enough room to grow? If you focus on those two issues, your poppies should grow well.

Final Thoughts

Learning how to grow poppies is a rewarding journey that brings beauty and life to your garden. By starting from seed, choosing the right location, mixing up varieties, and following these simple care tips, you can enjoy a vibrant display of poppies year after year.

If you found these tips on growing poppies helpful, please share this guide.