Papaver somniferum White Swan seeds - Opium poppy

Papaver somniferum 'White Swan' is an annual poppy with impressive summer flowering. This variety produces large, double white flowers with finely cut petals, resembling large pompoms. Their weight may cause the slender stems to bend, sometimes requiring staking to best display them. After flowering, the plant produces attractive decorative seed pods, highly valued in dried bouquets. This easy-to-grow, distinctive poppy can be sown directly in the ground in full sun.

Papaver somniferum 'White Swan' is an ornamental cultivar belonging to the Papaveraceae family. This cultivar is a horticultural selection of the species Papaver somniferum, known as the opium poppy or breadseed poppy, native to the Mediterranean basin and naturalised in many temperate regions. The species is widely cultivated for its edible seeds and medicinal properties. The 'White Swan' poppy is an annual plant, meaning its entire life cycle, from germination to seed production, occurs within a single season. The plant's habit is upright, with sturdy, sparsely branched stems typically reaching 90 cm to 1.20 m in height, depending on growing conditions. Flowering occurs 80 to 90 days after sowing. The plant does not produce suckers; its propagates exclusively by seed. The leaves are greyish-green to glaucous in colour, with toothed margins and an oblong to lanceolate shape. The pale green stems are cylindrical, hollow and may exude a white latex when cut. The flowering of 'White Swan' is remarkable: the double to very double flowers feature finely cut, almost fringed, pure white petals, sometimes tinged with greenish highlights. Each flower, measuring 10 to 12 cm in diameter, is borne on a long, solitary stem. Flowering spans from June to August, depending on the sowing date. After flowering, the plant develops spherical to ovoid seed pods, pale green in colour, turning brown when ripe. These pods, topped with a flat stigmatic disc, measure about 3 to 5 cm in diameter. They contain numerous white to cream seeds. The pods are highly decorative and used in dried bouquets. Opium poppies possess a taproot that tolerates transplanting poorly, which is why it is preferable to sow them in their final position.

Opium poppies, such as 'White Swan', find a place both in romantic settings and natural gardens or low-maintenance spaces. Their flowering effortlessly creates clouds of light, luminous blooms. While their flowers last only a short time in fresh bouquets, their visual impact in the garden is remarkable. The 'White Swan' poppy displays its full grace when grown in borders with plants such as English Shrub Roses, Foxgloves, or the swaying inflorescences of Feather Grasses (Stipa). The opium poppy is an ideal annual for quickly filling empty spaces between large perennials or light annuals, in a sunny location.