Heirloom Pepperbox

The Heirloom Pepperbox is one of the taller poppies of the Papaveraceae family with blooms in deep purple, reds and lilacs. They are also one of the flowers that have pods with seeds that have a nutty taste when eaten. They are also one of the traditional poppies from the Papaver spp. family and are very hearty.

This poppy is unique in appearance with paper like flowers in deep colors of purple and red, with lilacs and pink blooms that are pale in color with double petals. The stem and foliage is gray green in color and the leaves are broad with edge slices.

The pods on this poppy begins to enlarge after the petals have dropped from the blooms and have blue-black seeds that when mature, when harvested the seeds can be used in baking and have a nutty taste. The pod is able to be dried to use for decoration after the seeds have been harvested, if the seeds are left on the plant it will seed itself and spread.

The Heirloom Pepperbox poppy is one of the taller flowers in the species growing between three and four feet in height. This makes the traditional poppy the perfect last row in any garden and in island gardens the colorful center. They are able to grow heartily in cold climates and will germinate the seeds when the ground thaws. Seed sowing can be done in late winter or in early spring and usually take between seven and fourteen days to germinate.