Iceland Poppy Champagne Bubbles Mix

This mix of dwarf Iceland poppies, also known as the 'Champagne Bubbles' Mix, is an improvement on the 'Wonderland' selection. It offers very large, single and fragrant flowers with swollen, crumpled petals in various bright colours such as white, yellow, pink, vibrant orange, melon, or crimson red. It is perfect for flowerbeds, rock gardens, and flowering pots. It is a perennial often grown as a biennial that blooms between May and August. Planted when it is very small, this poppy does not disappoint. It is hardy and wind-resistant, and it appreciates cool summers, non-scorching sun, and can tolerate mediocre soil.

Papaver nudicaule, also known as the Icelandic poppy, is a perennial plant of the Papaveraceae family. Its root system is organized around a taproot that goes deep into the soil. The leaves form basal rosettes that expand over time, spreading up to 30cm (12in) wide. The elongated leaves are more or less dentate and have a bluish-green colour, covered in long hairs. The 'Champagne Bubbles' Mix selection has a compact habit, forming clumps that reach 40cm (16in) in height when crowned with bright and delicate flowers. Flowering occurs between May and August, depending on the climate and weather. Initially bent like a swan's neck, the buds straighten as they open. The poppy flowers, very large compared to the size of the plant, measure around 10cm (4in) in diameter and last about a week. They come in various colours and attract many pollinating insects. After pollination, elongated fruits form, which open at maturity on their upper part, releasing many small round seeds. This plant with sturdy stems withstands wind and cold well.

Iceland poppies thrive in cool summers and manage to grow in poor soils. They enchant flowerbeds and borders, where they create soft and bright spots of colour. The Champagne Bubbles Mix is a top-choice selection that brings the charm of the countryside, growing in slightly wild areas, in a rock garden or scree garden. It looks stunning when accompanied by ornamental grasses like Stipa tenuifolia or Muhlenbergia capillaris, and it also complements Nepetas with white damask nigellas, tulips, or forget-me-nots. This mix also allows for creating beautiful flowering pots that require very little maintenance.